DISTINCTLY VILLANOVA - Villanova University

Villanova
Magazine
WINTER 2013
DISTINCTLY VILLANOVA
Melding Academics and Mission
ALUM WINS PULITZER PRIZE
HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS

FROM THE PRESIDENT
“We will always be an Augustinian Catholic University
committed to the ideals of Truth, Unity and Love; an
academic institution focused on providing an exceptional
education rooted in the Liberal Arts; a place where
students, faculty, staff and alumni find ways to use their
talents and abilities to help those around them.”
— The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD
Opening Address to the Villanova Community, Aug. 30, 2012
DEAR FRIENDS,
As many of you so often tell me, a Villanova education
is a transformational experience. It is distinguished above
all by academic excellence. Our students are challenged
by a rigorous learning experience rooted in the liberal arts
and shaped by a community where students and professors
are partners in learning.
Yet we cannot ignore the fact that higher education
is facing significant challenges. For the benefit of future
generations of Villanovans, we must successfully navigate
them—so our University may continue to thrive in
what has become an increasingly complex landscape.
We must be agile, thorough and strategic. Above all,
we must continue to be dynamic to serve the evolving
needs of the students who come to us for the distinctive
education we offer.
Moving forward, our focus will be on creating educational
models that stimulate critical thinking and
fostering scholarship and research that contribute
new knowledge to academic disciplines. In support
of this focus, the University has established the
Office for Research and Graduate Programs. It marks
the beginning of an exciting strategic initiative for
Villanova and a major step in promoting faculty
scholarship and graduate programs as presented in
the University’s Strategic Plan.
With the increasing popularity of online learning,
Villanova must invent new ways to make today’s
classrooms places where our students want to learn.
We are committed to interdisciplinary learning, which
teaches our students to develop creative solutions
to real-world problems. Such offerings help ensure
that the Villanova experience will remain distinctive
and powerful.
Also, I am pleased to share that Villanova has once
again earned the #1 placement in the Regional University-North
category in US News & World Report’s
annual “America’s Best Colleges” rankings—marking
our 20th consecutive year in the top spot of that
category. Villanova was also again ranked among the
best value schools in the same category, for “Great
Schools, Great Prices.”
While we take pride in this acknowledgement of
Villanova’s excellence and value, we must continue
to develop new ways of doing what we already do so
well. We must be a leader in emerging trends while
also remaining true to who we are. Education is about
serving the mission of the institution so that it can
serve others. It is not about making profits, but profiting
the larger community. Together we can face the challenges
that lie ahead—and continue to inspire minds
to explore, act from the heart and succeed.
Sincerely,
The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S
President

CONTENTS
WINTER 2013
16
DISTINCTLY VILLANOVA:
MELDING ACADEMICS AND MISSION
Summer study-abroad program blends structural engineering, theology and Augustinian mission into
an unforgettable experience for faculty and students.
22
A REASON TO SMILE FOR COCA-COLA
SCHOLARS
A $500,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation
benefits first-generation college students.
FEATURES
22
26
THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Pulitzer Prize winner Eileen Sullivan ’99 A&S has one
mission: getting the story out.
26
28
A LESSON IN JUSTICE
Students in Villanova University’s School of Law’s Clinic for
Asylum Refugee and Emigrant Services aid families fleeing
human rights abuses.
28
4 NEWS
12 PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP
14 WHAT LIES AHEAD
32 IGNITING CHANGE
DEPARTMENTS
34 TRUE BLUE
36 RISING STAR
38 MISSION & MINISTRY
40 WILDCATS CONNECT
42 THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
49 CLASS NOTES &
IN MEMORIAM
56 MY VILLANOVA STORY
Magazine
Villanova
VOLUME 27, NO. 1 | WINTER 2013
© 2013 Villanova University
Vice President for University Communication Ann E. Diebold Editor-in-Chief Mercedes Ott
Writers Shawn Proctor, Suzanne Wentzel Design The Barnett Group
Photography Keith Adams, Aurora Imaging Co., Paul Crane, David DeBalko, ERproductions Ltd,
Barbara Johnston, Jim McWilliams, New York Yankees, Paola Nogueras, Richard Orr/ Basketball Hall of Fame,
Samantha Perlman, John and Tina Reid, Jim Roese Photography, John Shetron,
John Welsh, Villanova Athletics
Please send correspondence to:
Editor-in-Chief, Villanova Magazine, Constituent Publications
Griffin Hall, Villanova University
800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085
or call (610) 519-4591.
2 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 3

NEWS
NEWS
20 Years at the Top
Villanova again earned the
#1 placement in the Regional
University–North category in
US News & World Report’s
annual “America’s Best Colleges”
rankings, marking the
University’s 20th consecutive
year in the top spot of that
category. It also continued
to rank as one of the best
value schools in the Regional
University–North category for
“Great Schools, Great Prices,”
earning the #2 spot. •
Prize-Winning
Journalists Talk Shop
at Villanova
Eileen Sullivan ’99 A&S, part of
an Associated Press reporting
team to win the 2012 Pulitzer
Prize for Investigative Reporting
(see feature on Page 26),
highlighted a group of awardwinning
journalists who came
to campus for “Pulitzer Prize
Week.” Sponsored by the
College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences’ Writing and Rhetoric
Program, the event also
brought to campus the team of
Philadelphia Inquirer reporters
who won a Pulitzer for their
series on violence in Philadelphia
public schools. •
Kephart Lecture
Explores Melville Tale
Melville’s novella Benito Cereno
inspired the fourth annual
Kephart Lecture, delivered by
historian and author Greg Grandin,
PhD, of New York University.
“Fast-Fish and Loose-Fish:
Freedom and Slavery in Herman
Melville’s America” examined
parallels between the narrative
and the issues polarizing the
United States in the 1850s. The
Lore Kephart '86 Distinguished
Historians Lecture Series was
established in memory of Lore
Kephart '86 by her husband,
Horace “Kep” Kephart. •
CAA Salutes Coach Talley
and QB Robertson
Quarterback John Robertson
For the third time in his career, Villanova head football coach Andy Talley
was named the CAA Coach of the Year, while redshirt freshman quarterback
John Robertson was named the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year.
After the young team won just two games in 2011, a preseason poll had
predicted that the Wildcats would finish eighth in the CAA this year. Instead,
Talley led Villanova to an 8-3 regular season and the team’s fourth playoff
berth in five years.
Robertson was a big part of Villanova’s success. In his first 10 career starts,
Robertson threw for 1,830 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Wildcats’ second
leading rusher, he ran for 936 yards and had a team-high 13 rushing touchdowns.
Robertson is the first player in school history to run for more than
100 yards and pass for more than 300 in the same game. •
Senior guard Rachel Roberts
Court Action
The Villanova Wildcats never trailed en route
to a 74-49 win over the Montana Lady Grizz
in the championship game of the UNLV Lady
Rebel Round-Up in Las Vegas in November.
Senior guard Rachel Roberts was named to
the All-Tournament Team. To see the season
schedule for men’s and women’s basketball,
visit the following links:
villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/nova-mbaskbl-sched.html
villanova.com/sports/w-baskbl/sched/nova-wbaskbl-sched.html
All-America Honor Crowns
Lipari’s Standout Season
Junior Emily Lipari was named an
All-American by the United States
Track & Field and Cross Country
Coaches Association. This All-America
honor in cross country is a first for
Lipari, a two-time All-American for
indoor track and a leading performer
in Villanova’s cross-country lineup this
season. The Wildcats' top finisher at
the NCAA Championships, she also
received All-BIG EAST and All-Mid-
Atlantic Region acclaim. She won
the individual title at the BIG EAST
Championships, giving the Wildcats
the individual conference champion
for a fourth straight year, and registered
a third-place finish at the NCAA
Mid-Atlantic Regional. •
Capella to Oversee Graduate
Business Programs
Michael L. Capella, PhD, associate
professor of Marketing, has been
appointed associate dean for the
Graduate and Executive Business
Programs at the Villanova School
of Business. In this role, Dr. Capella
will lead efforts to ensure the
continued, and increasingly higher,
level of academic quality and
recognition to the VSB graduate
business programs and corporate
educational programs. He will partner
with faculty and administration
to provide strategic and academic
direction, keeping with the overarching
mission and strategy of
VSB and the University.
Dr. Capella, who joined the VSB
faculty in 2005, was recently named the Villanova School of
Business Emerging Scholar in Marketing. He has published in leading
journal outlets and serves on several editorial review boards.
His research has won several awards, including the 2008 Journal of
Advertising Best Article Award.
Prior to pursuing his doctoral degree at Mississippi State University,
Dr. Capella spent nearly 10 years in professional sales
management with an international food manufacturer. His industry
experience involved account management and relationship marketing
with large retail grocery chains, national restaurants, wholesale
accounts and channel intermediaries. •
AKANDE NAMED MID-
ATLANTIC REGION
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
After winning the individual title at the
NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships,
junior Nicky Akande was chosen
as the Mid-Atlantic Region Athlete of
the Year by the United States Track &
Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
It marks the fifth season in a row
that a Wildcat has received this honor.
Akande captured the individual region
title with a career-best time of 20:14 on a
6,000 meter course. She now has earned
both All-Mid-Atlantic Region and All-BIG
EAST accolades the past two years. •
Villanova Quidditch
Clinches
Villanova Quidditch triumphed over the
University of Maryland to win the 2012 Mid-
Atlantic Regional Championship in Roanoke,
Va. “I could not be more proud of our team
for pulling through despite the adversity,”
says co-captain William Greco ’13 COE.
4 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 5

NEWS
NEWS
ENGINEERING
RANKS IN TOP 10
For the seventh consecutive
year, the College of Engineering
has been ranked in the top 10
“Best Undergraduate Engineering
Programs” in the country
among colleges and universities
whose highest degree is primarily
a bachelor’s or master’s, according
to US News & World Report.
The College’s undergraduate
curriculum is nationally recognized
for its innovativeness
and robust research program.
Villanova’s teacher-scholars, says
Gary Gabriele, PhD, Drosdick
Endowed Dean of Engineering,
“are dedicated to their students,
providing in-depth support in
classes and labs. These same
teachers also publish in peerreviewed
journals and present at
major conferences. As a result, our
students are in tune with the latest
developments in the field.” •
RESEARCHERS
RECEIVE CLEAN-
WATER GRANT
In a world of increasing demand
on a limited water supply, technology
that can purify water more
efficiently could benefit millions
of people. Professor Metin Duran,
PhD, and Assistant Professor
Brian Chaplin, PhD, Civil and
Environmental Engineering, in
partnership with a researcher
from Drexel University, received
a grant from the National Science
Foundation to develop a
technology that could improve
water and wastewater treatment
facilities’ ability to remove contaminants
from water. •
Engineering Pays Tribute to Alumni
At the 36th annual Engineering
Alumni Awards
Dinner Reception, the Rev.
Peter M. Donohue, OSA,
PhD, ’75 A&S, University
president, joined Gary
Gabriele, PhD, Drosdick
Endowed Dean of Engineering,
in acknowledging
the outstanding leadership;
academic, technical and
professional achievement;
and meritorious service of
the College’s distinguished
alumni. The 2012 recipients
were Kurt Conti ’84; Eric
Ricci '01, '03 MS; Victor
Manuel Garcia Talavera ’98;
Kurt Conti ’84, recipient of the J. Stanley Morehouse
Award, with his wife, Gina, at the 2012 Engineering
Alumni Awards Dinner Reception.
William Leighton, PhD, '73; Michael Gigliotti ’70; James O'Leary ’00; Daniel
Weeden ’89; Daniel Flynn ’82; Paul Varello ’65; Karl Zurn '66, ’69 MEE; Glenn
DeSimone ’69; and William Albert ’12 (who received the Robert D. Lynch
Award at the Recognition Ceremony on Commencement Weekend). The
Engineering Alumni Society oversees the nomination process. •
Formula SAE Car Showcased
Students, faculty, alumni
and supporters from
the College of Engineering
gathered at
McLaren Philadelphia to
be introduced to Villanova’s
newest Formula
SAE (Society of
Automotive Engineers)
race car inside the same
building that houses the
world-famous McLaren
M26 Formula 1 race car,
which James Hunt drove
to victory in three Grand
Prix races in 1977.
The College’s Formula
SAE model, which weighs only 450 pounds, came in 30th out of 120 teams in
the competition held in May at the International Speedway in Dearborn, Mich.
SAE challenges students at schools throughout North America and international
locations to conceptualize, design, fabricate and enter into competition
a formula-style race car.
McLaren Philadelphia was pleased to be selected as the location for the
presentation of the College’s SAE car, says Robert DiStanislao, president of
the RDS Automotive Group. “Just as the McLaren MP4-12C is an innovative
and advanced automobile that will have an impact on the design of future
cars, so is the Villanova project something that could create new standards of
design in the years to come.” •
Brandt Named Director of
Moorad Center for Sports Law
A sports-industry expert
who has worked as a
lawyer, player agent,
team executive, television
analyst and national
columnist, Andrew
Brandt brings his experience
and vision to bear
as the inaugural director
of the Jeffrey S. Moorad
Center for Sports Law.
In this position, Brandt—
who also is the NFL
business analyst for ESPN and a lecturer at the Wharton
School of the University of Pennsylvania—will oversee the
activities of the newly created center.
“Andrew Brandt brings the perfect blend of sports industry
and legal expertise to his new role,” said John Y. Gotanda,
dean of the Villanova University School of Law. “As an industry
insider, Andrew knows the field of sports law like few others,
and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the VLS team.”
A graduate of Stanford University and Georgetown University
Law School, Brandt has represented such top athletes as Michael
Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Boomer Esiason, Matt Hasselbeck, Adam
Vinatieri and Ricky Williams. He gained front-office experience
as general manager of the Barcelona Dragons in the NFL’s World
League and as vice president of the Green Bay Packers. •
Alumnus Ford Commits $1 Million to VLS
Stephen D. Ford ’73 VLS and his
wife, Mary, have committed a $1
million gift to Villanova University
School of Law. The gift further
endows The Stephen D. and Mary
C. Ford Scholarship, established by
the couple in 2010 to support an
incoming first-year student from
New England who is deserving of
assistance because of academic
merit and/or financial need and
who demonstrates an interest in
public interest legal work.
“Steve Ford exemplifies what it means to be a Villanova
lawyer—a successful corporate leader who remains dedicated
to serving the greater good,” said John Y. Gotanda,
dean of the law school. “Through the further support of this
scholarship, Steve and Mary are helping to ensure that future
Villanova lawyers have the opportunity to follow in their
footsteps, continuing the Villanova tradition of leadership
through service.”
A dedicated alumnus, Ford has been a master in the Villanova
Law J. Willard O’Brien American Inn of Court, served as
co-chair of the Leadership Gifts Committee for the Campaign
for Villanova Law and volunteered in many other capacities. •
Grant Funds Research on
Acrylic Paints
Anthony Lagalante, PhD, associate professor,
Chemistry (right), and a colleague at the University
of Delaware have received a $300,000
grant from the National Science Foundation to
study the composition, cleaning and aging of
water-borne emulsion polymer (acrylic) paints.
Acrylic paintings are a significant constituent
of the country’s cultural assets, and the cleaning
and preservation of these treasures pose
great challenges. This research will incorporate
staff and facilities at the universities and at the
Winterthur Museum in Delaware and the Getty
Conservation Institute in Los Angeles. •
A&S Bestows Alumni Medallions
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences awarded
Alumni Medallions to graduates who have used their
knowledge, skills and compassion to better the world:
Alfonso Martinez-Fonts Jr. ’71, executive vice president
of the US Forum for Policy Innovation (third from left);
Jennifer Gosetti-Ferencei ’95 MA, ’99 PhD, professor of
Philosophy at Fordham University (center); Vice Adm.
Nanette M. DeRenzi ’83, the 42nd Judge Advocate
General of the Navy (third from right); Ivanley Noisette
’08, Villanova’s first George J. Mitchell Scholar (second
from right). Joining the honorees were Gary Olsen ’74
A&S, ’80 MS, associate vice president, Alumni Relations
(left); Jean Ann Linney, PhD, dean of A&S (second from
left); and the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S,
University president.
6 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 7

NEWS
NEWS
COPE Director Receives
Leadership Award
Trustee Sheila Klehm Receives
Bartley Alumni Medallion
Scholarship
Memorializes Beloved
Professor
Denice Ferko-Adams, MPH,
RD, LDN (left), who serves
as director of the MacDonald
Center for Obesity Prevention
and Education (COPE) in the
College of Nursing, received
the Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics’ prestigious
2012 Medallion Award for
her outstanding leadership
and service to the dietetics
profession.
Ferko-Adams has held
many roles over her career,
including president of the
Pennsylvania Dietetic Association,
chair for the Nutrition
Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice
Group (DPG), symposium
chair for the Weight Management
DPG leadership and
professional issues delegate
in the Academy.
As president of Wellness Press for more than 20 years, Ferko-Adams
has been a visionary in the area of wellness through her innovative,
team-based weight management and health campaigns for worksite
employees.
As COPE director, Ferko-Adams leads the fight against obesity
by educating health care professionals through interdisciplinary
webinars, conferences and simulation workshops. •
Father Donohue In Director’s Chair
Cast members of The Drowsy Chaperone
The opening-night performance of Villanova Theatre’s The Drowsy
Chaperone celebrated the return of the Rev. Peter M. Donohue,
OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S to the role of director for the first time since
he became University president. Chair of the Theatre Department
from 1992 to 2006, Father Donohue has won a Barrymore Award
for Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Chicago) and received five
other nominations. •
THOUSANDS TURN OUT
FOR DAY OF SERVICE
More than 4,200 Villanova students, faculty,
staff, alumni and friends participated locally
in the Day of Service, the centerpiece of the
St. Thomas of Villanova Celebration. Volunteers
worked in partnership with 142 agencies
throughout Greater Philadelphia. In addition,
150 alumni in 18 chapters nationwide supported
the day by serving in their neighborhoods.
This annual event, which builds upon service
performed throughout the year by the Villanova
community, offers a distinctive example of
Augustinian ideals in action.
AFTERNOON WITH
INGRID CROCE
Ingrid Croce and the Villanova Spires
More than 120 faculty, staff, alumni and
friends came to meet and greet Ingrid Croce,
wife of the late singer-songwriter Jim Croce
'65 A&S. In addition to signing copies of
I Got a Name: The Jim Croce Story, a memoir
she co-authored with current husband Jimmy
Rock, Ingrid discussed Jim’s rise to fame and
the challenges of the years after his death in
1973. The Villanova Singers and Spires performed
during the event in memory of Jim,
who had belonged to both groups. •
The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S, University President; medallion recipient
Sheila Klehm ’83 VSB; Patrick Maggitti, PhD, The Helen and William O’Toole Dean of the
Villanova School of Business
The Villanova School of Business
awarded the Rev. Joseph C. Bartley,
OSA Alumni Medallion to Sheila
Klehm '83 VSB. The 2012 medallion
recipient is an executive director
in Morgan Stanley's Private Wealth
Management Division.
An active alumna and philanthropist,
Klehm is a member of Villanova
University's Board of Trustees, has
Conference Explores Faith in the Public Sphere
Experts from around the country
weighed in on “Living the Catholic
Faith in Public Life,” the focus of the
Villanova University School of Law’s
seventh annual John F. Scarpa Conference
on Law, Politics, and Culture.
The symposium is considered to be
among the preeminent events in
Catholic legal education.
The Most Rev. Charles Chaput,
OFM Cap, archbishop of Philadelphia
and author of Render Unto
Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living
Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life,
delivered the keynote address. He
argued that if Catholics and Christians
live their faith in their public
lives, “our country will be the better
for it, and God will use us to help
make the world new.” •
served as chair of the Dean's Advisory
Council and has been a member
of the Advisory Board since 2002.
Named after the founding dean of
VSB, the Bartley Medallion recognizes
alumni who have distinguished
themselves in their careers, demonstrated
service to their communities
and provided extraordinary service
to VSB. •
The Most Rev. Charles Chaput, OFM
Cap, archbishop of Philadelphia, fields
questions from the audience at the law
school’s John F. Scarpa Conference on
Law, Politics, and Culture.
He was a dedicated alumnus,
passionate teacher, caring
advisor and faithful fraternity
brother. In appreciation of the
many ways Oliver Ludwig, PhD,
’57 A&S served the University
community, Villanova’s Sigma
Nu/Zeta Rho Alumni Association
and other admirers of the
onetime associate professor of
Chemistry, who died in 2010,
have established the Oliver
Ludwig Scholarship for Undergraduate
Science. The award
memorializes Dr. Ludwig’s
devotion to scholarship and
supports Villanova’s ongoing
commitment to academic
excellence in the sciences. John
Thacker ’84 VSB, president of
the association, announced
the endowment at the group’s
36th annual reunion. •
NASA Scientist
Shares Findings of
Kepler Mission
At a colloquium titled “The NASA
Kepler Space Mission: Discovering
Other Earths in the Universe,”
William Borucki, Kepler’s
principal investigator and one
of NASA’s most eminent space
scientists, detailed the accomplishments,
breakthroughs and
goals of the mission. Introducing
Borucki was astrophysicist
Andrej Prsa, PhD, visiting assistant
professor at Villanova.
A member of the Kepler team,
Dr. Prsa tracks and catalogs
eclipsing binary stars. •
Leno Headlines
Parents’ Weekend
Poignant moments during
Parents’ Weekend can move
students and families to tears.
This year, Jay Leno's comedy
also did the honors. The
Emmy Award-winning host of
The Tonight Show entertained
families at the Pavilion as part
of the 2012 festivities. •
8 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 9

NEWS
NEWS
Nobel Laureate Awarded 2012
Mendel Medal
Law Alumni
Celebrate Reunion
Dr. Hill’s Service to the
Marketing Profession Lauded
Exhibit Brings Icons,
Dignitaries to Campus
Villanova University
awarded the 2012 Mendel
Medal to Ahmed
Zewail, PhD, in recognition
of his pioneering
scientific research and
dedication to the promotion
of education and
partnership for world
peace.
In 1999, Dr. Zewail was
the sole recipient of the
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
for his groundbreaking
developments in “femtoscience,”
making possible
observations of
atomic motions during
molecular transformations
in a quadrillionth
of a second. He is the
Linus Pauling Chair
2012 Mendel Medalist Ahmed Zewail, PhD, and
the Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA, PhD, ’69 MA, vice
president, Academic Affairs
Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Physics at the California
Institute of Technology.
“Dr. Zewail epitomizes the purpose of the Mendel Medal,” says
the Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA, PhD, ’69 MA, vice president, Academic
Affairs. “He has publicly advocated for a more peaceful and just
world that can be achieved through investments in education and
economic development, and with respect for faith and religion.” •
Cardinal Rallies Support for Immigration Reform
GRANT FUNDS
STUDY OF NURSING
EDUCATION
Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles, has a small-group
discussion on immigration reform with members of the Villanova community.
“The question isn’t ‘What is somebody else going to do next?’ but
‘What am I going to do next?’” Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop
emeritus of Los Angeles, told members of the Villanova community
during a lecture on the need for federal immigration reform. Earlier
in his daylong visit to campus, the cardinal celebrated Mass, met
with student leaders and addressed the law school. Villanova was
an initial stop on his nationwide tour of Catholic colleges and
universities to encourage student advocacy. •
The Villanova University School of Law
Reunion 2012 welcomed back members from
the classes of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982,
1987, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007 to celebrate
milestone anniversaries of their graduation.
STUDENT
RESEARCHERS SHINE
AT POSTER DAY
Faculty, administrators and students filled
the second-floor Learning Commons at
Falvey Memorial Library Sept. 19 for the
University-wide 2012 Undergraduate
Research Poster Day.
Sponsored by the Center for Undergraduate
Research and Fellowships, in partnership
with the Department of Chemistry,
the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
and the College of Engineering, the session
featured more than 50 posters reflecting
research that students had conducted over
the summer.
The annual event exemplifies the
University’s commitment to undergraduate
research. It give students the opportunity to
share the results, challenges and next steps
of their work with fellow Villanovans and
industry partners. •
Ronald P. Hill, PhD, the Richard J.
and Barbara Naclerio Endowed
Chair in Business, received two
recognitions for his service to the
marketing profession. Dr. Hill was
named the 2012 recipient of the
Williams-Qualls-Spratlen (WQS)
Multicultural Mentoring Award of
Excellence. He also was honored for
his achievements by the PhD Project.
The WQS Award, given by the
American Marketing Association,
recognizes outstanding marketing
scholars and career mentors of
multicultural students and junior colleagues. Dr. Hill was
named this year’s winner for his exceptional research on
the topic of diversity and marketing, and for significant
mentoring accomplishments with students and colleagues
of color from underrepresented groups.
The PhD Project recognized Dr. Hill for “outstanding
service, leadership and commitment to the marketing
profession and for being an exemplary model for all
those who will follow in your footsteps.” The PhD Project
is a consortia of mostly Fortune 500 firms that come
together to fund minority doctoral candidates in each of
the business professions.
A well-known marketing scholar, Dr. Hill has held a number
of editorial positions with such publications as Journal
of Consumer Affairs and Journal of Macromarketing. He
won the 2010 Richard W. Pollay Prize from the Sauder
School of Business at the University of British Columbia, a
lifetime achievement award recognizing intellectual excellence
in the study of marketing in the public interest. •
Grant Funds Study of Nursing Research
The College of
Nursing’s Center for
Nursing Research
has received a nearly
$300,000 grant from
the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation’s
Evaluating Innovations
in Nursing Education
program to study the
effect of teaching demands on research productivity of
doctoral program faculty.
Principal investigator Suzanne Smeltzer, EdD, RN,
FAAN, professor and director of the Center (left), plans
to examine the research productivity and scholarship
of faculty who teach and mentor doctoral students.
Her co-investigators are Mary Ann Cantrell, PhD, RN,
professor (right), and Nancy Sharts-Hopko, PhD, RN,
FAAN, professor and director of the PhD in Nursing
program (center). •
As part of the University’s
commemoration
of the ecumenical Year
of Faith proclaimed
by Pope Benedict XVI,
Villanova’s Art Gallery
featured an exhibit of
sacred icons, vestments,
chalices, Gospel
books and other
liturgical artifacts that
reflect the prayer and
faith traditions of the
Eastern Orthodox churches. “Icon: The Way to
the Kingdom” ran from October to December
and occasioned lectures, visits from religious
leaders and other special events. Among the
highlights: the awarding of an honorary doctorate
in Sacred Theology to Metropolitan Hilarion
Alfeyev of Volokolamsk, a bishop of the Russian
Orthodox Church, for his work in building
relations between the Orthodox and Roman
Catholic churches. •
Dr. Dowdell Inducted Into
American Academy of Nursing
Dr. Dowdell (right) and her
mother at the induction
Professor Elizabeth
Burgess Dowdell, PhD,
RN, FAAN, was among
176 nurse leaders from
across the country
to be inducted as
a fellow during the
American Academy of
Nursing’s 39th Annual
Meeting and Conference
in Washington,
D.C. Inductees represent
the nation’s top
nurse researchers,
policymakers, scholars,
executives, educators and practitioners.
Dr. Dowdell was selected because of her
significant and sustained contributions as a
nursing leader and advocate for vulnerable
children. She has contributed more than any
other nurse scientist to knowledge on perilous
Internet behaviors of youth, including
cyberbullying and sexting (sending sexually
explicit messages or images), and is funded
by the US Department of Justice. Her cuttingedge
research informs policy on strategies
for protecting children and adolescents from
Internet-associated hazards. •
10 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 11

Profiles
in
LEADERSHIP
Two distinguished members bring diverse
knowledge, skills and experience to
Villanova University’s Board of Trustees.
By Shawn Proctor
Rev. Raymond Dlugos,
OSA, PhD, ’79 A&S
TRUSTEE
Augustinian ideals have guided the life of the
Rev. Raymond Dlugos, OSA, PhD, ’79 A&S and, in
turn, he has dedicated himself to protecting heritage of
the Augustinians. As Vice Presdent for Mission and
Student Affairs at Merrimack College and Trustee at
Villanova University, the two Augustinian institutions
of higher education in the U.S., Father Dlugos possesses
incredible insight into what makes an Augustinian
education powerful.
“I have found it very helpful to view the Villanova Board
through my Merrimack lenses and helpful to work at Merrimack
while wearing my Villanova lenses,” he says. “They
are very different institutions, yet we share this heritage.”
Prior to his post at Merrimack, he served as chief
executive officer of The Southdown Institute in
Ontario, where he provided leadership to members
of religious orders suffering emotional, psychological and
behavioral disorders. He also served as vice president
for the institute and was a postdoctoral fellow. He
held an American Psychology Association internship
in the Department of Veterans Affairs Psychology
Service at the Edward Hines, Jr. Hospital in Illinois.
Father Dlugos was ordained in November 1983,
and received a master’s degree from Washington
Theological Union and earned a doctorate in counseling
psychology from the State University of
New York at Albany. He is a licensed psychologist in
New York and Massachusetts.
In 1990, he returned to Villanova to serve as director
of Vocations with the Order of St. Augustine, Province
of St. Thomas of Villanova. He remembers thinking
then that much had changed throughout campus. The
University had begun a major transformation, one
that would strengthen its national reputation, he says.
“There was a whole lift of the reputation. Now awareness
of Villanova University is much higher.”
He joined Villanova’s Board of Trustees in 2002,
a role and experience that have only reinforced his
belief that a Villanova education is defined by high
standards of excellence and an outward-looking
perspective. His term of service concludes at the
end of the year, and Father Dlugos believes the value
of community, spirituality and service are as strong
at Villanova today as they were when he was an
undergraduate in its Honors program. “What ties
all of that together is an important virtue in the
Augustinian tradition: humility,” he says.
William M. Gibson ’66 VSB
TRUSTEE
William “Bill” Gibson ’66 VSB believes he is proof
students gravitate to the university that is right for them.
He knows Villanova was his perfect choice. A product
of a blue-collar environment, he attended Villanova as
a “day-hop” and balanced academics with off-campus
work. It readied him for future career challenges.
“I’ve always valued my Villanova experience. It taught
me that a workday is a very long day, and that if one wishes
to succeed, there are no short cuts. Secondly, it gave me
great street sense and an understanding of how decisions
are made in the real world environment,” he says.
His career began with IBM, but blossomed in executive
management positions with successful computer services
companies. In 1986, Gibson led a management buyout of
STSC Inc. and helped transform it into the world’s leading
provider of supply chain management solutions. This
company, Manugistics Inc., grew from a small start up to
a publicly held company with a market value in excess
of $2 billion.
At the core of Manugistics’ solutions was an ability to
improve the decision making within their clients’ operations
and then rapidly share this information within the
enterprise and among business partners. “Our clients collapsed
inventory investments, maximized manufacturing
resources and streamlined their distribution networks.
As a result they were at the forefront of major efficiency
improvements experienced by many firms over the past
20 years,” he says.
Gibson served as chairman and chief executive officer
of Manugistics, until retiring in 2001. Since then, he has
been a managing partner of The Albermarle Group, a
private equity firm. In addition to earning an Economics
degree from Villanova, he completed the executive education
program at the Harvard Business School.
His connection to the University continued when his
daughter Caroline graduated in 1995. In honor of his
Villanova experience and his family’s involvement
with the institution, he established the Gibson Family
Endowed Scholarship at Villanova in 2006. His role as
a trustee and interactions with scholarship recipients
have given him the opportunity to help shape Villanova
students into ethical leaders.
“The spirit and philosophy of St. Augustine are still
here and still affect people,” he says. “The University
continues to develop well-rounded individuals, prepared
to succeed. They have a sense of what’s right and what’s
wrong and how to contribute to society.”
From left to right: Rev. Raymond Dlugos, OSA, PhD, ’79 A&S and William M. Gibson ’66 VSB
12 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 13

WHAT LIES AHEAD
AS THE UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC
Plan reveals, Villanova University’s
greatest priority is academic excellence.
The University builds on its national
reputation for academic distinction, creating
strong leaders and critical thinkers.
In an increasingly competitive higher
education market, Villanova must
continue the pursuit of excellence in
graduate and professional education and
in faculty scholarship. The strength of
its graduate programs, the reputation of
its professors and the quality of scholarship
are the most important factors
that enable the University to increase
its national stature to attract the most
Alfonso Ortega, PhD, Villanova’s first associate vice president for Research and
Graduate Programs
Player on a National Stage
Villanova establishes Office for Research and Graduate Programs
By Jennifer Schu
talented students, faculty and staff to a
dynamic, intellectually rich campus.
The University’s strategic goal is to
invest in programs that have a positive
impact on society and that will enhance
Villanova’s national reputation. In July
2012, Villanova established the Office
of Research and Graduate Programs.
The new office will oversee Villanova’s
research activities, both internal and
external, as well as the Office of Research
Administration (ORA) and the Center
for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships
(CURF). In addition, the office will
provide coordination of graduate programs
across campus.
The Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA, PhD,
’69 MA, vice president for Academic
Affairs, announced the establishment
of the office and the appointment of
Alfonso Ortega, PhD, as associate vice
president for Research and Graduate
Programs, calling it “the beginning of
an exciting strategic initiative for the
University.”
He added, “It is my hope that it will
be a watershed in our shared goal of promoting
faculty scholarship and graduate
programs as presented in the Villanova
University Strategic Plan.”
The creation of the office and the
appointment of Dr. Ortega are the result
of a study initiated in 2010 by the Office
of Academic Affairs.
Creating a culture of teacher-scholars
An internationally renowned researcher,
Dr. Ortega is the James R. Birle Professor
of Energy Technology in the Department
of Mechanical Engineering and previously
served as the associate dean for Graduate
Studies and Research in the College of
Engineering. Before coming to Villanova
in 2006, he served in the Engineering
Directorate at the National Science Foundation
as a program officer in the Division
for Chemical, Biological, Environmental
and Thermal Programs. Leaving that post
to come to Villanova was, he says, “the
best decision I ever made.”
“Villanova offers an environment that
genuinely promotes the philosophy that
research and scholarship are intertwined
with education,” he says. “You can
engage in world-class scholarship and
establish an international reputation
here and, at the same time, be a part of
an outstanding educational institution
that places the education of its students
front and center. This is not necessarily
the case in institutions that pride themselves
as research universities.”
One of the most important aspects of
his job will be to develop opportunities
for research across the University. That
will involve raising research awareness
and the importance of research in support
of the Strategic Plan.
“The impetus for creating this office was
related to the Strategic Plan goal of increasing
our national stature—which impacts
our ability to continue to recruit the very
best students,” Dr. Ortega says. “In order to
do so we need to increase our faculty’s ability
to do research on this campus.”
Establishing the office sends a message
to faculty that Villanova supports them as
researchers and scholars, Dr. Ortega says. In
his six years at Villanova, he has been able to
continue to be an active teacher-researcher,
calling it “a wonderful life.”
“Villanova really is the kind of institution
where you can attempt this
model and pull it off in a beautiful way.”
It is a place, he adds, where faculty can
excel at teaching but also enjoy the
individual freedom to pursue their own
scholarship—a continuum of scholarship
and research that is completely
synergistic with the role of educator.
“At Villanova, we will never sacrifice
our commitment to undergraduate education
as a foundation. It is the mission
of our school.”
Among the best college faculty are
those who stay at the forefront of the
thinking of their areas of expertise
and participate in current findings and
research. As the University increases its
commitment to research, undergraduate
students will benefit, Dr. Ortega believes.
“Students will be taught by better
teachers and will experience classroom
interactions with practitioners in their
fields. More scholarship and research
means more opportunity for students
to work on leading ideas in their fields.”
Unlike most traditional large research
institutions, Villanova has always made
including undergraduates in research a
priority. Villanova undergraduates know
they will participate in every aspect of
their academic life, Dr. Ortega explains.
“If you want to work in research labs,
you can if you want to—as young as you
want to. Even freshmen actively participate
in research here on campus.”
“A connection point”
Dr. Ortega’s job will include working
with the individual Colleges to identify
grant opportunities, supporting faculty
in applying competitively for large federal
and foundational grants, expanding
funding for undergraduate research and
developing opportunities for research
across the University.
He also intends to reach out to peer institutions
here and abroad to form relationships
and collaborations that will enable
Villanova to work with their faculty and
even share facilities and laboratories.
“We have very bright faculty capable
of forming individual relationships, but
it’s also important to have institutional
relationships,” he says. “That is especially
true for younger faculty who are just beginning
their research careers. Having an
office like this in essence gives Villanova a
connection point with other institutions.”
As research and graduate programs
often go hand in hand, the new office
will also oversee graduate programs. It
will provide a forum where Villanova’s
Undergraduate and graduate students do
research with Dr. Ortega in his Laboratory
for Advanced Thermal and Fluid Systems.
graduate program leaders can discuss
ideas for interdisciplinary graduate programs
and the University’s approach to
distance and online programs.
One of the hottest issues in higher
education today—the growth of online
courses—will be a focal point in the foreseeable
future, Dr. Ortega says. “We cannot
ignore the fact that there are increasing
numbers of people who want to have the
flexibility to take graduate courses online.
Villanova has a deep commitment to quality
in both graduate and undergraduate
education. That’s a very important dialogue
we must have within Villanova.”
It’s clear that the establishment of the
Office of Research and Graduate Programs
will benefit both students and faculty—
and is a strong step forward in terms of
increasing the University’s national stature.
“We have areas in this university where
we can legitimately be research players on
a national stage. We will have more and
more of them as we continue to attract
faculty who want to be teachers as well as
researchers,” Dr. Ortega says.
“I am extraordinarily fortunate to be
here. Undergraduate education remains
our most important mission. Villanova
offers a wonderful opportunity to those
who see higher education as a vocation,
who want to be educators, role models
and scholars. This creates an outstanding
learning environment for our students. I
think Villanova offers the true hope of
what a University can be.”
14 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 15

Far left: Sister Roberta,
one of the Augustinian
contemplative nuns in
Lecceto, Italy, guides the
Villanovans through the
history of the frescoes of
the inner cloister. Left: The
coastal city of Manarola
features structures built
into the cliffs along the
Mediterranean Sea.
DISTINCTLY VILLANOVA:
MELDING ACADEMICS
AND MISSION
Summer study-abroad program blends structural engineering, theology and
Augustinian mission into an unforgettable experience for faculty and students.
By Suzanne Wentzel
Civil engineers looking to study historical structures
can’t go wrong with Italy. From arches and aqueducts
to catacombs and domes, the country brims with soaring,
spanning, leaning, sinking and crumbling monuments of
human ingenuity.
But it’s also famous for structures made not from bricks and
mortar but from “living stones.” One of the sturdiest is the
community that bears the name of a man forever linked with
Italy: Augustine. It was here that he was baptized; here that his
mother, Monica, died; here that the hermits who followed his
monastic rule came to be known as the Order of St. Augustine.
And in June 2012, it was here that a group of engineering students
witnessed the convergence of their academic discipline and
Augustinian heritage into one unforgettable Villanova experience.
The students not only examined the structural characteristics
of Italy’s finest edifices. They also discovered how it feels to live
as an Augustinian community thousands of miles from campus.
Match made in heaven
This unique opportunity was the fruit of a University-wide effort
that began with David Dinehart, PhD, professor and assistant
chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Dinehart has
a habit of finding ways to pair engineering and the University’s
mission. In 2000, he and fellow faculty created a relationship
with an orphanage in Honduras, and for 10 years, Villanova students
designed and helped to build a school, chapel and other
structures to meet the children’s needs. Three years ago, Dr.
Dinehart and his students launched NovaCANE, an outreach
program that gets middle schoolers excited about engineering.
In 2010, he hit upon an idea that incorporated not only Villanova’s
Augustinian heritage but also its robust study-abroad
program. To realize his vision, Dr. Dinehart needed the help
and expertise of two partners. The first was the Rev. Joseph Farrell,
OSA, STD, associate vice president, Mission and Ministry.
16 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 VILLANOVA.EDU 17

Father Farrell had done his doctoral studies in Rome and had
been leading Augustinian pilgrimages in Italy for five years.
Dr. Dinehart made his pitch: What if Villanova were to create a
summer study in Tuscany that combined a 3-credit technical elective
on Italian engineering and architecture with a 3-credit theology
course on the history of Augustinian thought and the Augustinian
Order? Father Farrell’s reaction was unequivocal: Sweet.
That same year, while he was in Italy for a conference on timber
engineering, Dr. Dinehart scouted one of the venues that
could serve as a base for the summer study: the Augustinian monastery
in San Gimignano. After he met the friars and toured the
medieval building, which now serves as an international house of
prayer and pilgrimage, any doubts about its suitability as a learning
center and residence for the students vanished. “The location
was so beautiful, and the town so quintessentially Tuscan, that it
was almost too perfect—better than I ever imagined!”
Having identified the what, where and why, Dr. Dinehart and
Father Farrell needed to figure out the how. Enter the final partner:
the Office of International Studies (OIS), which oversees
all for-credit international experiences and supports faculty in
creating and implementing summer programs.
As soon as OIS staff heard the plan, their faces lit up. In
recent years they had been working with College of Engineering
faculty to make it easier for their students to study abroad.
The proposal on the table was the latest testimony to the success
of that collaboration.
But the Tuscany proposal wasn’t just exciting. It was groundbreaking.
“Not only was it the first Villanova summer program
to offer engineering, but it tied that discipline to the most fundamental
part of our university: its Augustinian heritage,” says
Levi Brautigan, assistant director of International Studies.
This pattern of mixing class time with field trips continued
after the students moved on to San Gimignano to meet Father
Farrell and Dr. Dinehart. It was during their two-week stay in
the Augustinian monastery that the engineering and theological
aspects of the program began to coalesce.
Course “load”
A small but radiant jewel in the Tuscan crown, San Gimignano
boasts an array of structural delights and a centuries-old
connection to the Augustinians. Villanovans lost no time in
exploring both.
In their morning engineering classes, students learned to
identify load paths and to analyze elements of historic Italian
structures. Then they related those lessons to their surroundings.
For example, after discussing the medieval towers for
which San Gimignano is famous, they went up inside one of
them, anticipating where cracks in the unreinforced masonry
would be and looking at how the structure had been stabilized.
The group also conducted a structural evaluation of the monastery.
They inspected every inch of the building, including
its eerie, labyrinthine underground. They took photos, documented
deformations and noted the thicknesses, lengths and
locations of cracks. Their report will provide baseline data for
subsequent trips.
Other excursions took them farther afield. Having read
Brunelleschi’s Dome, the students traveled to Florence’s famed
Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore (known popularly as the
Duomo) to behold this architectural wonder.
“From an engineering perspective, I thought the dome was
amazing,” says Michael Battaglia ’13. “It was great to study
the history of the engineering behind it and then be able not
only to see it but to climb up and walk between the inner and
outer shells.”
Students were just as enthusiastic about their theology
classes—as was Dr. Dinehart, who sat in on most of them. After
all, the locale and conditions for learning about Augustine, his
rule for community living and its impact on the 13th-century
Tuscan hermits couldn’t have been more ideal. But what completed
the picture was Father Farrell himself.
“Because of his background and experience, he was able to
tie everything together and make it so interesting,” says Sarah
“Christians do not make a house of
God until they are one in charity.
The timber and stone must fit
together in an orderly plan, must be
joined in perfect harmony and must
give each other the support, as it
were, of love.”
–ST. AUGUSTINE, SERMON 336
Walker ’14. “He is passionate about theology and was able to
get us access to the coolest places.”
Father Farrell led them to the overgrown ruins of an original
Tuscan hermitage (reached via a Roman bridge mentioned in
Dante’s Purgatorio) and gained them admittance to an Augustinian
cloister. There they joined in midday prayer with the
sisters and received a private tour of the building’s frescoes.
And thanks to Father Farrell, the guide at Florence’s Basilica of
Santa Maria del Santo Spirito gave students an up-close view of
a wooden crucifix sculpted by Michelangelo.
Learning alfresco
After days of prep work—reading texts and listening to Dr.
Dinehart’s e-learning lectures on such topics as seismic damage,
forensic engineering and retrofits to Pisa’s Leaning Tower—
eight engineering students departed for Siena in early June.
OIS, which has had a presence in that city for 20 years, had
arranged for a professor at the local university to teach the students
the history of Tuscan art and architecture.
Over the course of two weeks, students immersed themselves
in the study of sculptures, paintings, piazzas and cathedrals.
Oftentimes they’d close the books and hit the streets to see, in
person, the structures and styles they had been reading about.
Such outings made the task of distinguishing nave from apse
and Romanesque from Gothic more meaningful and fun.
For Kayla Spitzer ’14, the experiential learning was one of
the highlights of the group’s time in Siena. “I enjoyed learning
in the classroom about different architectural styles and
then going with our professor to look at examples in the city’s
infrastructure.”
Far left: Dr. David Dinehart
takes in the exterior of the
Duomo. The course gives
students the opportunity
to examine large cracks
in Brunelleschi’s crowning
achievement. Left: Maggie
Smith ‘14 enjoys the
backdrop of the University
of Siena.
18 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 VILLANOVA.EDU 19

Life with friars
Through their classes, travels and, above all, extended stay in
San Gimignano, students were exposed to a new experience of
the Augustinian way of life—and to a more holistic perspective
of the Augustinian Order.
The friars—one American, one Scottish and one Peruvian—who
reside at the Augustinian monastery welcomed the
students, showed them around and shared the stories of their
vocation. Meanwhile, Father Farrell encouraged the students to
embrace the order’s communal tradition of meeting, eating and
Above: Students spend a free weekend in the coastal region of the
Cinque Terre. Below: After learning about the retrofit techniques
used to stabilize the Leaning Tower of Pisa, students visit what is
one of the world’s most famous engineering failures.
praying together every day. “Since it was important to the first
hermits to have a common space for these activities,” Father
Farrell says, “it should be important to anyone trying to learn
and live this way of life.”
This intentional daily routine created an overwhelming sense
of community within the group. “I especially loved evening
prayer,” says Kayla. “We would all sit on the tower at sunset,
surrounded by rolling hills, thinking about how fortunate we
were to be there.”
Such Augustinian moments blur the artificial boundaries that
often delimit theology and engineering—or any other set of
code words for faith and reason. Fortunately, Villanova is committed
to a model of education that strives to integrate the two,
and Dr. Dinehart was happy to do his part in Italy to promote
that integration.
“From the students’ viewpoint, I think having their engineering
professor pray with them, share experiences with them and
talk about how important faith is gave the theology piece even
more credibility.”
Rome, then home
Before returning to the States, the travelers spent three days in
Rome. The grand finale planned by Dr. Dinehart and Father
Farrell featured the Eternal City’s most spectacular engineering
and spiritual attractions, including the Pantheon, the Colosseum,
the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Once again, the students had Father Farrell to thank for their
entrée to certain sites and events. They got into a special Mass
at St. Peter’s at which Pope Benedict XVI conferred the pallium,
a white woolen band symbolizing pastoral responsibility,
on 44 archbishops from around the world, including Philadelphia’s
Most Rev. Charles Chaput, OFM Cap. Afterward, they
were able to tour the Vatican Necropolis and see the tomb of
St. Peter. They also visited Father Farrell’s former residence, St.
Monica College, the order’s international house of studies near
St. Peter’s Square.
The students couldn’t get enough. Even on the final day,
when Dr. Dinehart and Father Farrell told them they were free
to do what they wanted, all eight chose to go with the two men
to see, yes, more churches.
Once home, the students gave this inaugural program rave
reviews. Organizers hope that the next installment will take place
in 2014. In the meantime, they are grateful to have accomplished
what they set out to do: bring together different offices and disciplines
on campus into one shared experience. But they did something
more, Father Farrell has come to realize. They helped to
clarify and strengthen the University’s distinctive identity.
“Because we were trying to imitate the Augustinian way of
life and live by the Augustinian Rule, what we really were able
to celebrate in Tuscany was Villanova.”
RELUCTANT HERO
Try as he might, the man now remembered as Blessed Agostino
Novello, OSA, could not avoid having greatness thrust upon him.
Born in Sicily of Spanish noble lineage, Matteo Di Termini
seemed destined for fame and glory. After studying civil and
canon law at the University of Bologna, he distinguished himself
as a brilliant and learned lawyer, rising through the ranks of the
Sicilian magistracy to become a counselor to the king.
But after being left for dead on the battlefield in 1266, Matteo
had a change of heart. He renounced worldly honor, became a
lay brother in the Order of St. Augustine and entered a Tuscan
convent—having decided not to mention his professional past.
With a new name and a new vocation, Agostino looked forward
to loving God and neighbor in pious obscurity.
But his secret did not last. A property dispute prompted him to
write a document defending his confreres’ rights, and his expert
legal argument betrayed him. His superiors knew a good thing
when they saw it. Contrary to his wishes, Agostino was ordained
and, over time, appointed confessor to Pope Nicholas IV and
named General of the Augustinian Order. In his retirement, he
returned to the convent, where he devoted himself to prayer and
good works of extraordinary measure. He was beatified in 1761.
While in Siena, the students visited the Pinacoteca Nazionale
and saw painter Simone Martini’s 14th-century altarpiece honoring
Agostino. But he also is memorialized on Villanova’s campus.
His stained-glass depiction in the Law School Chapel may be a
gentle reminder to future attorneys of just how fine is the line
between humility and hiding one’s light under a bushel.
Above: Students and professors gather
on the terrace of St. Monica’s College
after the Papal Mass at St. Peter’s
Basilica. Right: The Duomo offers a
magnificent view of Florence to those
who, like the Villanovans, are willing to
climb the 463 steps to the top.
20 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 VILLANOVA.EDU 21

A Reason to Smile
for Coca-Cola Scholars
A $500,000 Grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation
Benefits First Generation College Students
University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S; scholars Frederick Hicks ’16 VSB, Ashley
Bell ’16 CON, Connor Hause ’16 A&S, Ibrahim Kargbo ’16 COE and Neil Patel ’16 A&S; and Brian Wynne ’86 A&S,
president and general manager of Still Beverages, The Coca-Cola Company
By Jennifer Schu
IBRAHIM KARGBO ’16 COE emigrated from Sierra Leone to Philadelphia
at the age of six. The United States represented a fresh start for the Kargbo
family, whose native land had been torn apart by a decade-long civil war.
Today, the Villanova freshman is studying to become an electrical engineer.
He is the first member of his family to attend college.
22 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 VILLANOVA.EDU 23

Scholarship recipient Ibrahim Kargbo ’16 COE and his mother,
Haja Koroma
In 2012, The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of
The Coca-Cola Company, awarded Villanova University
$500,000 as part of its Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship
Program. Villanova is the first single-site location in the
Northeast Region to receive this funding, which provides
financial assistance for students who are the first in their
immediate families to attend college. “My desire for a college
education stems from a desire to open doors for my siblings,
cousins and family and to make them proud,” Ibrahim says.
The multi-year award will benefit 20 Villanova students—
five each year—from the five counties in the Greater
Philadelphia area. Recipients will each receive $6,250 per year,
“My desire for a college education comes from
a desire to open doors for my siblings, cousins,
and family and to make them proud.”
—Ibrahim Kargbo ’16 COE
provided the student maintains eligibility requirements.
“An important part of Villanova University’s original
mission was to educate immigrants who were first generation
college students,” says Brian Wynne, ’86 A&S, president and
general manager of Still Beverages, The Coca-Cola Company.
“Villanova helped shape my life and make me successful at
Coke, and now we’re making dreams a little more attainable
for some worthy and talented young people,” he says.
Wynne, a member of the President’s Leadership Circle,
was instrumental in connecting the University with The
Coca-Cola Foundation.
“TO MY FAMILY IT MEANS THE WORLD”
Indeed, this year’s scholarship recipients are dreaming big.
Kargbo is excited to be at the College of Engineering. “It’s
highly ranked, and I know I’ll be in high demand and have
a great chance of getting hired after graduation,” he says. “To
my family it means the world. They see this as an example
of hard work paying off, which they can show my siblings
and cousins.”
Neil Patel ’16 A&S aspires to become a highly regarded scientist
and writer. “The key to unlocking my future is within me,
and college is necessary to mold that key into shape,” he says.
For Ashley Bell ’16 CON, the scholarship will bring her one
step closer to her goal of becoming either an obstetric or pediatric
nurse. She plans to get involved with the Student Nurses’
Association of Pennsylvania. “As I think about my future at
Villanova, I am filled with a sense of hope for the numerous
possibilities and the great experiences that lie ahead.”
Frederick Hicks ’16 VSB, who hails from Philadelphia’s
Roman Catholic High School, aspires to become a financial
manager and, ultimately, a CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
He says he chose Villanova because of the prestigious business
program and the many professional development opportunities
available at the University. He’s already joined the Equity and
Sports Marketing societies.
Connor Hause ’16 A&S is reaching for the stars—he’s
majoring in astrophysics. “I believe there’s no problem that
can’t be resolved with education, and I want to motivate others
to pursue their dream of education as well,” he says.
The Coca-Cola Foundation grant is in addition to an ongoing
partnership with The Coca-Cola Company that has been facilitated
by Wynne. Coca-Cola has been an exclusive vendor of
Villanova since 2008 and has served as a lead sponsor for the
University’s St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service.
“We value our ongoing partnership with The Coca-Cola
Company, and thank The Coca-Cola Foundation for providing
Villanova students with this generous support,” says the
Rev. Peter M. Donohue OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S. “The establishment
of the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program
at Villanova builds upon our longstanding commitment to
attract an increasingly diverse applicant pool, educate underserved
students and serve first generation college students.”
Wynne is happy that the company’s philanthropic support
of the University is making available to others the educational
experience that has meant so much to him and his family.
His daughter Shannon ’16 A&S is a Villanova freshman.
“We’re helping the next generation of Villanovans,” he says.
“We’ve come full circle.”
Robert W. and Audrey J. Luckow
have a passion for education and
the doors it can open in life. They
also have a deep appreciation for
the educational experience their
daughter Stefanie ’06 A&S received
at Villanova.
Over the past few years the
Luckow family has provided critical
resources to the University, including
the Luckow Family Endowed
Chair in English Literature and the
Luckow Family Endowed Fund for
Scholarships. They also support the
University’s Annual Fund, which impacts
many students and programs
in significant ways.
Now they’re helping Villanova
achieve one of the most important
imperatives of the University’s Strategic
Plan—to increase enrollment
of high-achieving students. Financial
aid plays a huge role in the latter’s
college choices. To help bridge
the gap for students who need a
little more financial assistance to
attend Villanova, the Luckows have
established The Luckow Family
Scholarship Challenge, which will
make it easier for potential donors
Father Donohue, Frederick Hicks, Patrick Maggitti, PhD, The Helen
and William O’Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business, and
Brian Wynne
Luckow Family Scholarship Challenge Program
Lauren Shohet, PhD, the Luckow Family Endowed Chair in English Literature;
Father Donohue; Stefanie Luckow ’06 A&S; Audrey and Robert Luckow
to help endow scholarships.
“We have a significant number
of alumni and parents who want to
make a gift to Villanova and really
like the idea of scholarships, which
make the University more affordable
for deserving students,” says
Michael J. O’Neill, vice president
for University Advancement. The
Luckows’ $2 million gift will be used
to match donor contributions in
specific dollar amounts at different
levels. For example, for each contribution
of $75,000 the Luckows
will make a $25,000 matching
gift for a total of $100,000. Young
alumni can donate $50,000 to
achieve a match of $50,000.
“Scholarships have been a very
fulfilling part of our Villanova giving,”
says Audrey Luckow. Adds
Robert Luckow, “Each thank-you
note from a student shows us what
a difference our gift is making.”
For more details on the Challenge,
please contact Patricia McGoldrick
director, Parents Program, at
patricia.mcgoldrick@villanova.edu.
24 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 VILLANOVA.EDU 25

Pulitzer Prize winner Eileen Sullivan ’99 A&S has one mission: getting the story out
THE FACTS
Speak for themselves
EILEEN SULLIVAN ’99 A&S admits she has a
terrible sense of direction. Miraculously, the one time she had
to reach her destination, her navigational skills did not disappoint.
She arrived punctually at the offices of the Courier-Post,
in Cherry Hill, N.J., and interviewed for a reporter position.
The job launched a professional career that hit a milestone in
May, when she and Associated Press colleagues Matt Apuzzo,
Adam Goldman and Chris Hawley received the 2012 Pulitzer
Prize for Investigative Reporting.
BY SUZANNE WENTZEL
Sullivan’s success arises from a different, and spot-on, sense
of direction: knowing where a good story lies and which roads
to take to pull it together. Of course, instinct isn’t enough. Her
work requires sweat, sleuthing, moxie and an epic resolve not to
be deterred by the word “no.”
“Deadline reporting is scrappy,” Sullivan says. “You have
to figure out who has which piece of information. If someone
won’t take your call, you need to be creative about finding
other ways to collect the facts.”
The Alexandria, Va., native began developing her journalistic
talents with The Villanovan. She joined the student newspaper
and got her fist taste of interviewing, writing, and eventually
putting in late nights as editor.
Being a reporter had intrigued Sullivan since childhood. The
daughter of University of Michigan alumni, she would listen,
spellbound, as her parents’ college friend, distinguished journalist
Robin Wright, described her life’s work. Sullivan knew she
wanted to pursue a similar path.
What was surprising was her decision to pursue it at
Villanova. Sullivan was not only Wolverine-born but Hoyabred.
It never occurred to the die-hard Georgetown fan that
she would attend a BIG EAST rival—until the day she and her
parents made an unplanned stop at Villanova.
“I immediately felt comfortable,” she recalls. “Villanova is a
special place with a great reputation and strong sense of community.
My parents kept saying, ‘These will be the best four years
of your life.’ Had I realized they were right, I would have taken
longer to get through college!”
Sullivan made the most of those years, impressing classmates
with her warmth, humor and intelligence. “Eileen has always
been dedicated and passionate,” says Brian Murphy, JD, ’99
A&S, a senior advisor at the US Securities and Exchange Commission
in Washington, D.C. “She knows what she wants, and
she goes after it.”
LOCAL AND NATIONAL SCENE
Armed with an English degree, Sullivan “went after” the
chance to do real-world reporting. Covering a local beat for the
Courier-Post attuned her to citizens’ concerns and taught her a
valuable lesson. “What happens in Washington
matters, but at the end of the day,
if people’s garbage isn’t getting picked up,
that’s the biggest problem in their life.”
During her tenure with the paper, the
9/11 tragedy occurred. Sullivan wrote
about victims and families from southern
New Jersey, including Danielle Kousoulis
’93 VSB. She also kept up with homeland-security
issues as they related to law
enforcement and other local agencies.
Parlaying her new knowledge and skills,
Sullivan moved to Washington, D.C., in 2003 and began reporting
on the Department of Homeland Security, first for Federal
Times and then for Congressional Quarterly. She became a master
student of government bureaucracy and legislative procedures.
“Covering DHS on Capitol Hill was my graduate education.”
When AP hired her in 2007, Sullivan knew more about DHS
than anyone else in the newsroom. Her expertise broadened to
include counterterrorism and domestic radicalization—which
is why, four years later, she was pulled into an AP probe into the
New York Police Department’s intelligence operations.
BREAKING THE STORY
“Ever heard of rakers and mosque crawlers?” asked Sullivan’s
“We write to get facts
out into the open so that
the public can have a say
in the debate.”
— Eileen Sullivan
Gregory Moore, Denver Post editor and co-chair of the Pulitzer
Prize Board (left), posed for pictures with Matt Apuzzo, Adam
Goldman, Chris Hawley and Eileen Sullivan after the foursome
received their Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting on May 21.
Patrick G.
Maggitti, PhD,
left corporate
life for academia
and brings
wide-ranging
experience to
his new role.
AP colleagues, who were doing stories related to the CIA. The
terms had come up in reference to the NYPD’s intelligence
division. Sullivan shook her head.
Further digging revealed that the NYPD was engaged in
a counterterrorism mission like no other. Soon Sullivan
was helping colleagues to break a story describing how the
NYPD, working outside its jurisdiction and with CIA help, was
spying on Muslim communities. As part of a human mapping
program, undercover officers infiltrated
neighborhoods, “raking the coals” for “hot
spots” of suspicious activity. In addition,
informants attended mosques and reported
on the content of sermons. In some cases,
individuals watched had been publicly
lauded for being partners against terrorism.
Such tactics, Sullivan says, undermine the
trust that should exist between police and
local communities and, if used by a federal
agency, would violate privacy laws.
Provoking murky questions such as the
balance between civil liberties and public safety is, says Sullivan,
a reporter’s job. “We write to get facts out into the open
so that the public can have a say in the debate.” The debate
triggered by AP is taking place not only across kitchen tables
but in the highest levels of government.
BEAT GOES ON
Winning a Pulitzer hasn’t changed Sullivan. “I still have to get
my own soda at work,” she jokes. Getting the story out is her
only focus. When not following up leads or Googling contacts,
she relaxes by cooking, traveling and, yes, taking in a Hoyas
game. But when the Wildcats are in town, Sullivan’s loyalties
are undivided. The “V” on her T-shirt says it all.
26 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 VILLANOVA.EDU 27

Law students and professors
fight for justice for children
such as this boy through the
CARES Clinic.
A LESSON IN
JUSTICE
Students in Villanova School of Law’s Clinic for Asylum
Refugee and Emigrant Services Aid Families Fleeing
Human Rights Abuses By Shawn Proctor
“Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.”
—ST. AUGUSTINE
In June 2006, “John” (a pseudonym) came to America
as a man without a country. He had fled his native Iraq to
seek asylum from the violence and terror he experienced
as a Chaldean, a practicing Catholic, in a region torn by war
and religious strife. A religious minority, Chaldeans were
often harassed by the Islamic majority who associated them
with Americans. Their mere presence planted the seeds of
democracy and freedom in the country, threatening insurgents
who would do almost anything to maintain control.
“It is because of this persecution that thousands of
my family and fellow Chaldeans have fled Iraq, making
Christianity virtually extinct in the country,” he says.
John was also targeted because he was contracted by a
company to drive trucks to deliver water to American soldiers’
service camps. Even though he was beaten and kidnapped, he
refused to stop aiding the soldiers.
“Islamic terrorist groups…knew my name and threatened
that if I did not leave the country, I would be killed,” he told the
Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
in a 2007 hearing. “They promised me they would kidnap and
slaughter my entire family.”
A LONG JOURNEY TO FREEDOM
Traveling across five countries and four continents, John
and his family made their way to the U.S. where they were
detained in a family detention center in Berks County,
Pennsylvania in 2006. They spoke no English. They had no hope
of navigating the complex legal system in order to argue their case.
Yet he needed to tell his story, about the beating that
permanently damaged his jaw and left his son with a
broken arm. He needed to make them understand how the
men kidnapped him then, at gunpoint, threatened to kidnap
and murder his family if he did not leave right before beating
him unconscious. John had risked his own life to help the
American soldiers. His family, in turn, risked everything in
their flight from danger.
28 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE SPRING WINTER 2012 2013 VILLANOVA.EDU 29

Inside the barbed wire and fences of the detention
center, they still faced an uncertain future—asylum in the
United States, continued detention or exile.
Asylum is an immigration status that the U.S. government
confers on people who have fled persecution or have a wellfounded
fear of persecution in their home countries because
of who they are (their race or nationality), what they believe
(their religion or political opinion) or their social group.
Throughout its history, the U.S. has provided sanctuary for
people in these extraordinary circumstances.
John is just one example of the clients Villanova Law School’s
(VLS) Clinic for Asylum Refugee and Emigrant Services
(CARES), an international human rights and immigration
clinic, represent over the 14-week class. The second- and thirdyear
law students act as the lawyers, documenting the client’s
story and connecting him or her with resources like translators
and social workers. Ultimately the students will take everything
they learned and argue the case before an immigration judge
who will render a verdict.
By the students working the case from beginning to end they
gain a familiarity with asylum law as it is handled in the real world
and serve a vulnerable group fleeing persecution. In the past,
CARES has represented and won asylum for refugees from countries
as disparate as Afghanistan, Belarus, Cameroon, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti,
Honduras, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Rwanda, Sierra Leone, The Ivory Coast, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
The clinic’s efforts reunite families and, as in John’s case,
save lives. Now 53 years old, he was granted asylum in 2006
and has moved to California where he works at a car wash. His
six children attend school and the family has begun working
toward becoming a full member of American society. After a
year of asylum, he became a permanent resident, and five years
later he is allowed to apply for citizenship.
“Thank you to everyone who helped me and my family. Thank
you to Villanova,” says John, who is currently studying English.
“America is a great country and I am very happy to be here.”
A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
Michele Pistone, JD, LLM, VLS professor, sees CARES
as very central to the University’s mission, as informed
by Catholic Social Thought. Moreover, it prepares
practice-ready lawyers through experience in social justice.
“The way to ignite change is to introduce our students to ‘the
other.’ You can talk about this theoretically in the classroom,
but the thing that motivates students is the personal interaction
with clients,” she says. “I’ve seen change happen—it happens in
front of my eyes on a regular basis.”
Typically asylum cases are won 30 percent of the time, granting
refugees the ability to stay and work in the country. VLS’
asylum clinic clients win about 90 percent of the cases, partly
due to the screening process for cases and excellent work of
the students.
“Working with Chaldeans from Iraq, I’ve seen a virtual chain
of migration. After one family travels to the United States and
begins to settle in, another family will come, and then another,”
Pistone says.
John’s journey led him across the world, from Batnaya, Mosul
Dedicated recently in 2009, the state-of-the-art Law School is not just a building; it’s a community committed to fostering social justice
education, awareness and action amongst its students.
An Iraqi family who won asylum with the help of students in
Villanova Law School’s CARES Clinic.
Iraq to Capitol Hill in 2007, where he testified before late
Senators Ted Kennedy and Arlen Spector about the need for a
refugee program for Iraqis fleeing to the U.S.
“Two years ago yesterday, I was fleeing Iraq in the back of a
bus, just starting my long journey to America,” John said that
day. “My future was unknown. But now, thanks to the help of
many people and my family, I have been blessed with asylum in
this country.”
Senator Kennedy thanked the VLS CARES Clinic for
representing the clients who attended the hearing and
would have otherwise been without an advocate. “These law
students…have just performed nobly and they deserve the
highest commendation in terms of legal profession. They have
made an extraordinary difference,” he said.
DISCIPLINES JOIN TOGETHER TO EDUCATE AND
ADVOCATE FOR THE END OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Human trafficking, the illegal trade of human beings
for sexual or labor exploitation, is often overlooked
and underestimated. However, according to the
International Organization for Migration, cases of child and
adult human trafficking continue to rise globally.
To combat this public health issue and human rights abuse,
the College of Nursing, School of Law and College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences’ Department of Communications came
together to create a multidisciplinary Human Trafficking course
open to graduate students and undergraduate students with
permission. They hope to end human trafficking by educating
Professor Pistone with a former client of the CARES Clinic who was
granted asylum.
healthcare providers in both hospital and community settings,
as well as assist school nurses and educators to see their roles in
prevention and identification of victims. The course was developed
by Professor Linda Copel, PhD, RN, along with Professor
Pistone and Billie Murray, PhD. One purpose of the course was
to educate nurses and inform a local legislative representative
about the health issues of victims, the laws related to human
trafficking and the best practices used to respond to the diverse
needs of victims.
As part of the course, students attended a human trafficking
lecture focused on the streets of Philadelphia with
Special Agents Rosemarie Vesci and Michael Goodhue from
the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Pennsylvania,
Michelle Morgan, JD, ’97 VLS, adjunct professor of
Law at Villanova.
“When I first started working this I didn’t really understand
what they meant by ‘juvenile prostitution,’” Vesci says. “To
me this was something that happened in Thailand, not in the
United States.”
“Their idea of being taken care of is staying in a trashy hotel
room and eating fast food occasionally,” Goodhue says. “But
for a lot of these girls, the alternative is staying with [family]
that abuses or molests them and not eating at all.”
In turn, the interdisciplinary course participants spread the
wisdom gained from the curriculum to the University and
local community. Students spoke on campus about human
trafficking in a panel discussion on trafficking people with
disabilities and the role of school nurses in preventing domestic
minor sex trafficking.
The course helped raise awareness of this critical issue for
future Villanova nurses and other interested students from
different academic disciplines who will be able to go into
the community and make a difference in lives impacted
by trafficking.
30 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 VILLANOVA.EDU 31

IGNITING CHANGE
Villanovans contributing to the community
received news no child wants to hear:
her mother had stage 3 breast cancer. Six
months later, one of her aunts learned
she had stage 2. As Erika and her cousin
Mike Ruane became involved in fundraisers
that support cancer research, they
couldn’t help wondering what was being
done to assist breast cancer patients
facing financial hardship. Erika and Mike
caught the look in each other’s eyes.
What are we waiting for?
However, when Erika called a lawyer to
find out how to get 501(c)(3) status for a
foundation that would provide crisis intervention,
she heard a pause on the other
end of the phone. “How old are you?”
Because they were minors, Erika and
Mike appointed a board of directors to
oversee the charity now known as Breast
Intentions. They worked to get the
nonprofit off the ground, waiting for the
day when they could legally share in the
leadership of the cause that had become
their passion.
the Villanova Equity Society. Because
the University has both challenged
and equipped her to pursue her dreams,
Erika has become more confident in her
ability to think independently and create
positive change.
“What I love about Villanova is that
it never puts you into a mold,” she says.
“You have the opportunity to do what
you want to do, be who you want to be
and take the path you want to take. No
one forces you to achieve your goals. You
have to make it happen.”
Pitch of a lifetime
Erika and Mike have received a slew of
awards and been featured in national publications.
In May, Erika was selected as the
New York Yankees’ 2012 Honorary Bat
Girl, a contest sponsored by Major League
Baseball’s Going to Bat Against Breast
“What I love about
Villanova is that
it never puts you
into a mold.”
— Erika Rech
Room to
Grow
Villanova empowers
visionary Erika Rech
’14 VSB to take her
cause to a new level
By Suzanne Wentzel
Before she started the college rounds,
Erika Rech knew she wanted to attend a
prestigious business school. Sure, it was a
“must” for a career in finance. But Erika’s
motivation was more than professional.
Atop her list of priorities was an item
that few teens ever have to address: How
do I grow the nonprofit organization I’ve
co-founded?
And atop her list of schools was one
that could empower her to answer that
question: the Villanova School of Business.
Besides being a top-ranked school,
VSB enjoyed the seal of approval of a
higher authority—Erika’s parents, who
worked on Wall Street and raved about
the caliber of Villanova hires.
On a gray, soggy day, the Middletown,
N.J., native visited campus. By tour’s end,
her head and heart agreed: This was the
one. If she loved Villanova in the rain,
Erika figured, she certainly would love it
in the sunshine.
What she didn’t figure on was how
much Villanova would exceed her
expectations. The University not only
has delivered a transformative education
but has nurtured the junior Finance
and Accounting major’s instincts as a
compassionate go-getter and built her
capacity to ignite change. “When I came
to Villanova, I didn’t realize how much
it would offer in terms of inspiration and
personal growth.”
Underage thinking
Villanova has enabled Erika to advance
a project she started at 15, after she
Power building at Villanova
Heading up a nonprofit is no easy job,
but Erika’s Villanova education has
proved to be invaluable in helping her to
grow into that role. Courses in financial
management and reporting, competitive
effectiveness and corporate responsibility
have given her the skills to manage
funds, develop marketing campaigns and
solicit grants and donations.
“My classes have opened up a new
world to me,” Erika says. “I’ve applied
in real time the accounting principles,
marketing tools and managerial techniques
I’ve learned, which has helped
us to grow the charity and operate it
more efficiently.”
The outcomes have been impressive.
Breast Intentions now has chapters
in five states and has raised more than
$750,000. Recently, Erika and Mike
launched the Pink Pact Initiative to educate
high schoolers about breast health.
A seize-the-day thinker, Erika credits
Villanova with giving her the
freedom to map out her future—
and a plethora of avenues by which
to do it. In her first two years, she
studied for a summer in Italy; interned
at Tullett Prebon; traveled to Silicon
Valley; and managed investments for
Left, 2012 Honorary Bat Girl Erika Rech ’14 VSB throws the first pitch in Yankee Stadium on
Mother’s Day, and above, on Villanova’s campus.
Cancer initiative. On Mother’s Day, she
took the mound and threw the ceremonial
first pitch. “I’m the worst baseball player
ever, but I got it over the plate!”
The die-hard fan met Jeter, Cano,
Swisher and others, visited the dugout and
accepted a pink Louisville Slugger bat.
The highlight, however, was having her
mom join her on the field.
The demands of being a full-time student
and charity co-president could daunt
the most resolute soul, but Villanova
helps Erika to stay the course and envision
possibilities for growing the foundation.
“The Augustinian principles have
inspired me to persevere, especially when
I feel overwhelmed,” she says. “They’ve
taught me that my troubles are only a
nuisance compared to those of other
people. Villanova’s efforts to open students’
eyes to the importance of truth,
unity and love have greatly impacted
my work with the charity.”
For more information, visit www.breastintentions.org.
32 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 33

TRUE BLUE | RON CRUSE
Travelin’ Man
Ron Cruse ’77 A&S is helping Villanova students to think globally
When Ron Cruse first arrived on campus as a
Villanova freshman in the fall of 1973, “I was
a rarity,” he laughs. “I had an Oklahoma drawl
and said ‘y’all’ a lot. My buddies from Long
Island and North Jersey were fascinated.”
Leaving Oklahoma for the East Coast was
the first step in what has become a career of successfully
navigating new waters. The founder,
president and CEO of Logenix International,
a global logistics provider, has had a front row
seat for nearly every world crisis since 1987.
The global entrepreneur has conducted
business in more than 80 countries around the
world—often at critical times in their histories.
In 1992 he entered Russia just months after the
collapse of the former Soviet Union, organizing
one of the very first US-Russian joint venture
companies—which quickly became the largest
privately held freight forwarding operation in
the new independent republics.
Logenix has assisted in the rebuilding of
Afghanistan and reconstruction of Iraq and
served as an integral facilitator supporting
health and humanitarian assistance efforts
across Africa and Asia.
Now Cruse is sharing those experiences with
Villanova students. “He is a dedicated advocate
of global business education who has
contributed enormously to the programs and
initiatives at VSB, and his personal involvement
and experiences have been eye-opening
for our students,” says Jonathan Doh, PhD, the
Rammrath Chair in International Business and
director of the Center for Global Leadership
in the Villanova School of Business (VSB).
INTERNATIONAL ROOTS
Cruse gravitated toward a career that would
take him out into the world. His mother was a
Scottish war bride and member of the Women’s
Royal Naval Service; his father an American
captain of a landing craft that delivered Allied
troops onto Omaha Beach on D-Day. People
from all over the world visited the Cruse home.
Cruse attended Cascia Hall, an Augustinian
preparatory school in Tulsa, Okla., and “I liked it
so much that Villanova seemed a natural extension
of that experience.” He quickly felt he’d
made the right choice. “My memories of Villanova
are fabulous,” he says. “I strongly related to
the Augustinian way—to be ambitious but at the
same time down to earth, to enjoy life and do
unto others as you’d like them to do unto you.”
At Villanova he honed his communication
skills. “Nobody is successful in today’s world
without learning how to interact well with
others. Effective communication—especially
when doing business in a different culture—is
key to getting things done.”
He also learned organizational skills, according
to good friend William Donnell ’77 VSB.
“Ron became treasurer of our fraternity, and as
an 18- or 19-year-old was managing a budget of
$100,000 a year. He did a great job then—and
he’s doing the same today, just on an international
global scale.”
After graduation Cruse landed a job in the
international shipping industry. Over the next
25 years he traveled the world and eventually built
three successful multimillion-dollar companies.
HELPING VILLANOVA STUDENTS
During that time he realized how important
it was for young people to gain international
experience. (His son Alex “Bo” Cruse ’12 A&S
studied in Greece this summer.)
He has written a book, Lies, Bribes and Peril:
Lessons for the Real Challenges of International
Business, and established The Cruse Endowed
International Fellowships at Villanova, which
enable undergraduates in VSB and the College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences to participate in
nontraditional global work and study opportunities,
with an emphasis on destinations in the
developing and emerging regions of the world.
This year’s recipient, Casey Richards ’14 A&S,
spent the summer with the State Department’s
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the
Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Cruse says, “It’s an international marketplace—we’re
all tied together now. To help students
understand that is meaningful to me.”
“I strongly
related to the
Augustinian
way—to be
ambitious but
at the same
time down to
earth, to enjoy
life and do unto
others as you’d
like them to
do unto you.”
— RON CRUSE
BY
JENNIFER
SCHU
VILLANOVA.EDU 35

RISING STAR | PHILIP BURNHAM
Quantum Leap
Philip Burnham ’13 A&S Seeks Answers to Bigger Questions
From a young age, Philip Burnham ’13 A&S
recognized that the true value of education was
not simply acquiring knowledge, rather the
pursuit of the bigger questions. But it was at
Villanova that he learned the true benefit of a
liberal arts education: helping the world. That’s
what transforms knowledge into rare insight.
“We not only need to seek knowledge to
attain it, but find a way to use that knowledge
to aid people in some way, especially those
who don’t have resources to do so themselves,”
says Philip.
He traces his passion for science back to
a visit to Stonehenge with his family. Philip
was six years old and, like so many before him,
wondered how the massive stones had come to
rest there. Unlike many tourists, Philip didn’t
simply move on to the next landmark. He
bought armloads of books about Stonehenge
and spent the rest of the vacation pondering
the wonders of the world, places where culture
and science intersect.
“It was my first experience as a scientist
researching, and after that day I knew that
was what I wanted to do in life,” says Philip, a
double major in Mathematics and Physics
whose family lives in Minnesota.
CHAIN REACTION
His stepfather is president of the Science
Museum of Minnesota and shares Philip’s love
of culture and science. A Cherokee national
storyteller, his stepfather spins traditional
creation myths for audiences while weaving
baskets, and as the craft and story take shape,
he explains the geometry of the basket.
“It really hits the nail on the head that higher
math concepts are integral, even in cultures not
exposed to Western thought,” Philip says. He
believes it provides a model for how to introduce
math and science into a culture without undercutting
the traditions essential to the people.
Villanova’s emphasis on professor-student
relationships and the atmosphere of social
justice has also provided a fertile ground for
Philip. Under the guidance of faculty like
Georgia Papaefthymiou-Davis, PhD, professor
of Physics, he has embarked on a path
in scientific inquiry and research that he
was so eager to explore during his undergraduate
education.
“Despite a busy class schedule he always
found time to pursue independent work, even
if that meant starting his day very early in the
morning or working late in the evening or over
the weekend,” she says.
EUREKA EFFECT
Philip started a new experimental area in
Dr. Papaefthymiou-Davis’ laboratory involving
the synthesis and characterization of
magnetic nanoparticles for applications in biotechnology
and bio-medicine. In August, he
presented the results at the National Meeting
of the American Chemical Society. As lofty
as that research sounds, Philip also has the
gift to distill complex scientific information
to simple fundamental principles and tailor
his presentation to a target audience.
While working in the physics lab, he
noticed that many things are used once, even
though they could be used again. He hopes to
create an organization to allow labs around
the country to donate gently used lab equipment
to underfunded schools to increase
science literacy. Ultimately, it could inspire
students to seek further education in science
and engineering, and they will, in turn, inspire
others to follow their path into science.
He believes it is a model that can be expanded
internationally. “If we bring them into the
21st century and help them with tools and
resources, they can be agents of change in their
own countries,” he says.
“We not only
need to seek
knowledge to
attain it, but
find a way
to use that
knowledge
to aid people
in some way,
especially
those who
don’t have
resources
to do so
themselves.”
—PHILIP
BURNHAM
BY
SHAWN
PROCTOR
VILLANOVA.EDU 37

MISSION
&
MINISTRY
The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S presents the inaugural Civitas Dei Medal to philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre.
BACKING THE BEST
University medal honors extraordinary contributors to
Catholic intellectual tradition
>> By Suzanne Wentzel
Medals are powerful, lump-inthe-throat
symbols. It doesn’t
matter if they’re gold or tin,
handcrafted or sold in bulk, presented in
the Oval Office or at a 5K finish. Medals
acknowledge those whose deeds set them
apart, and once they’re pinned to a lapel
or hung around a neck, they announce to
the world: Here is greatness.
But medals also say something about
the giver. They reveal what the institution
bestowing the honor believes in and
stands for. More than that, they point to
the institution’s credibility. A medal has
value because its backer has value, not to
mention authority and expertise.
CORNERSTONE OF THE
COMMUNITY
It’s only natural, then, that Villanova is
the creator and giver of the new Civitas
Dei (“City of God”) Medal. Conceived
of by Barbara Wall, PhD, vice president
for Mission and Ministry, the medal is
intended to recognize Catholics who
through their life’s work have made
extraordinary contributions to the
Catholic intellectual tradition and the
pursuit of truth, beauty and goodness.
The University applauds these traits
in others because it demands them
of itself. For 170 years, Villanova has
upheld and advanced the Catholic
intellectual tradition—a tradition that
encompasses the work of theologians and
philosophers, poets and painters, dreamers
and dissidents.
“Over the centuries, Catholics have
reflected their relationship with God
through their thought, writings and
artistry,” Dr. Wall explains. “Their work
helps us to understand God’s presence
and activity in the world.”
Not surprisingly, Augustine looms
large within this illustrious crowd. In
his search for truth, Augustine wrestled
with the culture of his day. He articulated
his commitment to this engagement
between Church and world in his
massive work The City of God (hence, the
medal’s name).
In fact, the Catholic intellectual
tradition bears a distinctively Augustinian
stamp. It emphasizes that faith
and reason can engage in significant,
fruitful conversations. As an Augustinian
university, Villanova has made
Augustine’s vision the cornerstone of its
academic community.
“We use the lens of faith to see how
the world can be improved, ennobled
and humanized,” says Thomas Smith,
PhD, professor, Political Science and
Humanities, and the Anne Quinn Welsh
Endowed Chair and Director of the
Honors Program. “We ask, ‘How can
we convey a sense of the meaning and
purpose of human life and of the world in
a way that lifts the world up?’”
AND THE WINNER IS…
Once the medal’s criteria were approved,
a Mission and Ministry subcommittee
identified possible recipients. One name
rose to the top: Alasdair MacIntyre,
professor emeritus, University of Notre
Dame. His may not be a household
name, but the Scottish-born convert
to Catholicism is a towering figure in
modern moral philosophy and political
The new Civitas Dei “(City of God”) Medal
theory. MacIntyre’s thought has influenced
thousands of scholars and affirmed
Catholic universities as places where
faculty and students have the freedom
and resources to seek the fullness
of truth.
“I can’t think of a better recipient
for this medal,” says Peter Wicks, PhD,
Catherine of Siena Fellow in the Ethics
Program. “He has not only contributed
to the Catholic intellectual tradition,
but he has also helped many of us to
think about what that tradition is.”
Drs. Wicks and Smith were among
the Notre Dame-educated Villanova
faculty who spoke at the inaugural
presentation of the Civitas Dei Medal
Sept. 27 in the Connelly Center. Michael
Moreland, JD, PhD, vice dean, Villanova
University School of Law, and John
Doody, PhD, Robert M. Birmingham
Chair in Humanities, and professor,
Philosophy, also offered personal perspectives
on MacIntyre’s contributions.
After University President the Rev.
Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S
awarded the medal, MacIntyre delivered
a lecture titled “Catholic Rather Than
What?” At a reception following the
ceremony, guests had the chance to speak
with the honoree.
GROWING THE TRADITION
This latest innovation by Mission and
Ministry typifies the creative ways in
which the office retrieves and renews
the University’s Augustinian heritage.
Through conferences, workshops, lectures,
service break experiences, retreats and
special events, Villanovans have the
opportunity to learn about the tradition
and, more important, become bearers of it.
“We try to make it impossible for
someone on this campus not to know
the Catholic intellectual tradition,”
Dr. Wall says. “We believe it has the
power to make a difference in the world,
even today.”
38 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 39

WILDCATS
CONNECT
IT’S A SMALL WORLD
IN THE SWIM
Villanova’s women’s swimming program brings an international touch to
campus. By Jennifer Schu
Natalie Elphick ’13 A&S
South Africa
Katrin Heider ’15 A&S
Germany
Mikah Schlesinger ’14
A&S Israel
Erin Malone ’13 A&S
Australia
Roxanne Tammadge ’13
A&S South Africa
YOLANA
Du Plessis ’12
A&S will never
forget her first swim practice at Villanova.
Neither will her coach.
She had arrived on campus the previous
night after a grueling 30-hour trip from
her hometown of Boksburg, South Africa.
Barely able to keep her eyes open, she
stood on the pool deck at 6 a.m., ready for
a two-hour workout. Immediately afterwards
she was off to five hours of classes.
“The following day I told her, ‘I don’t
know how you just did that,’” recalls
Villanova men’s and women’s head swimming
and diving coach Rick Simpson.
“I had to fall into the routine. That’s
swimming,” Du Plessis says. “You go to
practice and you go to class—no matter
what else is going on.”
Or no matter where you happen to be.
For Du Plessis and the other “internationals”
on Villanova’s women’s swimming
team, the challenges of being a studentathlete
at an academically rigorous
university can be heightened by language
and cultural barriers and homesickness.
Yet the young women are thriving while
bringing an added international touch to
the entire Villanova community.
From all corners of the world
The team—which finished fifth in the
BIG EAST last year—currently has
seven international student-athletes on
its roster, part of an ongoing, decade-long
plan to increase global diversity on the
Villanova campus, according to Simpson.
Broadening the program’s recruiting
horizons has exceeded expectations, he
says. “We knew it was a smart athletic
decision to recruit these student-athletes,
but we didn’t realize how much it would
do for our program culturally and academically.
It’s just been amazing.”
The current roster includes athletes
from Great Britain, Germany, Finland,
Australia, Israel and South Africa. Six
competed in their countries’ Olympic
Trials this summer. Two others are recent
graduates. Du Plessis is a CFO program
analyst at Deloitte LLP in New York, and
Yolana Du Plessis shattered the Wildcats’ record in the 100 backstroke. She is one of the international swimmers who have made an
impact in and out of the pool.
The 2012-2013 Villanova Women’s swim team
includes seven international student-athletes.
Astrid Armgarth ’11 of Sweden is pursuing
a doctoral degree at Cambridge University.
Like all new college students, the
swimmers dealt with homesickness—
only their families were thousands of
miles away. “It was difficult adjusting
to life so far away from home and in a
different cultural environment,” says
Erin Malone ’13 A&S, an Australian.
“But knowing I had [teammates] going
through the same thing was comforting.
We always had each other to lean on
when cultural adjustments became overwhelming,
or if we just missed home and
needed to have a cry.”
Having other international swimmers
on the team also helped Israeli swimmer
Mikah Schlesinger ’14. She arrived at
Villanova after two years of mandatory
service in the Israeli military.
“It’s not easy to start school again after
a two-year break, especially when your
studies are not in your first language and
you have to find time to do homework
in between practices and classes,” says
Mikah, who Skyped home every day.
“You don’t have family here—not even
extended family,” Du Plessis points out.
“Yet people reached out to me to make
me feel at home”—including Kathleen
Byrnes, associate vice president for Student
Life, with whom she spent holidays.
Mikah says Coach Simpson introduced
her to a local Jewish couple with whom
she could celebrate Jewish holidays. She
also turned to her teammates for support.
“The other international girls on
the team helped me adapt. They knew
exactly how I felt when I was homesick or
had trouble with schoolwork.”
Du Plessis adds, “There are a lot of
cultural differences, so you take it one step
at a time. You have to be willing to open
up to new things.”
Wildcat pride
For Roxanne “Roxy” Tammadge ’13 A&S,
who earned All BIG-EAST accolades
in 2012, coming to Villanova meant an
opportunity to keep swimming competitively
while getting an education. “In South
Africa, you cannot swim for a university,
only a club team,” she explains. “My
South African coach had come to America
to swim back in the ’80s, and said it was
an opportunity I should really consider.”
She says she chose Villanova for its
size, academics, up-and-coming swim
team and strong middle distance/distance
program. In addition to swimming
for Villanova, Roxy has competed in
the World University Games and—with
Villanova teammate Natalie Elphick ’13
A&S—the All-Africa Games.
“I love so much about this school. The
professors here are amazing and truly care
about you as a person,” Roxy says. “The
team truly becomes your family. It’s so
exciting. You’re no longer swimming for
yourself but for your school, and that’s a
real motivator.”
Indeed, school pride means a lot
to the swimmers. “I love being part
of the greater Villanova community,
because we aren’t just athletes—we’re
student-athletes,” Erin says. “When we
Not pictured:
Fiona Hardy ’16 A&S Great Britain,
Kaisla Kollanus ’16 A&S Finland
represent Nova Nation as Wildcats, we
also represent Villanova as a university.
Embracing the values of the school has
become very important to me.”
In addition to doing well in both
athletic and academic endeavors, “our
athletes become very involved in the
Villanova community,” Simpson says.
They participate in service initiatives
like the St. Thomas of Villanova Day
of Service. Du Plessis was active with
Back on My Feet, going on regular
runs with people experiencing homelessness.
Erin is a founding member of the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’
BRIDGE society, which builds relationships
among students and alumni in the
Arts and Sciences.
On that very first day, Du Plessis set the
tone for a successful career at Villanova
that included breaking a 19-year-old
school record in the 100-meter backstroke.
She also made her mark on
campus as a double major in Political
Science and Global Interdisciplinary
Studies, a Candidates’ Day speaker and
co-president of the International Students
Outreach Society.
Today she works near New York’s
Rockefeller Center Manhattan, from
which NBC’s Today show is broadcast.
And she has big plans for highlighting
her alma mater.
“One day soon I’m going to stand outside
that big glass window where people
hold up signs so they’ll show up on camera,”
she laughs, “and I’m going to hold
up a ‘Villanova Swim Team’ sign!”
40 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 41

THE ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION
O Tannenbaum
BY SUZANNE WENTZEL
No matter how many years you’ve been
out of college, you never quite forget
the frenzy of those last days before finals.
Sleep-deprived, over-caffeinated students
keep company through the night in Falvey
Memorial Library. Professors scramble to
grade papers and projects. Staff members
redouble their efforts to pilot the University
to a safe landing.
It is during this stretch that folks on campus
especially need a reason to pause, still
their hearts and refocus. And the Christmas
tree that lights up the center of campus each
December evening gives them the excuse to
do that.
Its multicolored nimbus arrests even the
most distracted passersby, drawing their gazes,
and their thoughts, heavenward. Aah. Life is
more than calculus and Shakespeare.
No matter what their faith tradition or cultural
background is, Villanovans cherish the
custom of having a decorated tree on campus—and
the festivities that surround it. At
the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec.
3, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD,
’75 A&S, University president, and other Villanovans
gathered around the tree to fill the
night air with carols.
Planted outside the Connelly Center two
years ago, the latest tree to serve this noble
purpose is a young fir that stands a modest
15 feet tall. Nonetheless, its youthfulness
promises greatness. Green with life, afire
with light, the tree is a herald of hope. It
reminds students to be what Villanova
alumni already are: light for a world that too
often slumbers in darkness—the light that
is the Christ Child.
He Who fills the world lay in a manger,
great in the form of God but tiny in
the form of a servant;
this was in such a way that neither
was His greatness diminished by His
tininess, nor was His tininess overcome
by His greatness.
—St. Augustine, Sermon 187
VILLANOVA.EDU 43

THE ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION
| VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT |
The Power of Community
Brian Muscarella ’80 VSB Finds – and GIVES – Strength in Villanova Community
BY SHAWN PROCTOR
Brian Muscarella ’80 VSB
Brian Muscarella ’80 VSB, president of
the Charlotte Chapter of the Villanova
University Alumni Association always
wore his Villanova spirit proudly. But
when he needed it most, he learned just
how strong those Villanova ties really are.
March 23, 2011 began like so many
other days for Muscarella and his
wife, Carol, and their two daughters,
Leigh and Laura. But a spinal stroke—
described by the doctor as a “freak act of
nature”—rendered Muscarella, then 53,
paralyzed from his neck down. Suddenly
a man who had competed in four New
York City Marathons could no longer sit
up or move his legs.
“It was a very devastating injury. My
mind was reeling from the diagnosis,”
he recalls. “My life went from traveling
every day as managing director for New
York Life and balancing a busy family
life in Charlotte to fighting every day to
do tasks we take for granted.”
It was a challenging time for the
Muscarella family, but he saw an overwhelming
rush of support from friends,
family and the Villanova community.
They visited him in the hospital every
day. Once he had been discharged from
the hospital, they drove him for the next
year to outpatient services and physical
rehabilitation at Carolinas Rehabilitation
Center. Others provided meals or care
packages to the family. Many more sent
emails and texts to bolster his spirit while
he worked on repairing his body.
“At Villanova I was part of a community.
I still am,” he says. “I will never give
up and never surrender because of the
support I have gotten from the network
of Villanovans.”
STRONG VILLANOVA BONDS
In the past 21 months, Muscarella has
made significant progress. He has recovered
muscle movement, but is still numb
from the paralysis. He plays wheelchair
rugby and participated in a 180-mile
bike ride to raise funds for the Adaptive
Sports and Adventures Programs at
the rehab facility he attends. The minimum
fundraising goal was $1,000;
Muscarella and “Team Freak” raised
more than $20,000.
“For me, it’s never been a choice. It
has only been when I will walk again,
not if. My family and dear friends have
selflessly given their time and energy to
my cause: I bring it every day to honor
them,” he says.
That attitude reflects the same dedication
that Muscarella displayed as a
leadership council member of the Charlotte
Chapter of the Alumni Association
for 12 years where he raises money
for student scholarships, hosts students
on trips with Habitat for Humanity, welcomes
new members of the Villanova
community at New Student Receptions
and engages alumni in his region as well
in New York, where he worked.
It also reflects the strong marketing
skills he learned at the Villanova School
At Villanova I was
part of a community.
I still am. I will never
give up and never
surrender because of the
support I have gotten
from the network
of Villanovans.”
—Brian Muscarella ’80 VSB
of Business as well as the spirit of service
he developed as a Villanova student.
“It has been and continues to be a
humbling yet rewarding experience,” he
says. “No matter the obstacles ahead, I
will never be alone. My heart is full, my
eyes are clear and my faith is resolute.”
VILLANOVA.EDU 45

THE ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION
At the Homecoming Festival, Villanovans celebrated their cherished college memories and created new ones.
Villanova: A Place We Call Home
BY SHAWN PROCTOR
Thousands of University alumni,
family and friends returned to
campus for Homecoming 2012,
held Oct. 23-27, continuing a tradition
of Villanovans coming together to
celebrate their connection to the school
and one another through food, drink
and entertainment.
“I had a fantastic college experience
and love to come back,” says Lucille Bell
’11 COE, a pharmaceutical engineer in
upstate New York. “It’s a perfect chance
to see everyone who I bonded with over
my years at Villanova.”
And for some, it was an opportunity to
share a connection to their treasured past.
Sarah Klein-Harris ’09 CON, who works
as an oncology nurse in Baltimore, came
to homecoming to introduce her boyfriend
to her alma mater. “It has opened many
doors for my career. It laid a solid foundation
as I work toward getting my master’s,”
she says. “I am proud to be a Villanova
alumna, part of a proud Villanova family.”
Remember to save the date for next
year’s Homecoming, which will be
held Oct. 25-27, 2013. Visit alumni.
villanova.edu for more information.
46 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 47

THE ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION
Homecoming Highlights
President’s Club Reception Celebrates Villanova as International Community
Villanova Reflects on “Back & Black”
More than 160 students, faculty, staff and alumni joined
together for “Back & Black: A Celebration of the African
American Experience at Villanova,” to mark the launch of
the Villanova Oral History Project Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. in the
Connelly Center.
Alumni, including Johnny Jones ’69 A&S, Ted Freeman
’72, Bob Whitehead ’70 A&S, Napoleon Andrews ’74 A&S,
Edward Collymore, PhD, ’59 VSB, Al Pride, PhD, ’73 A&S,
Gene Arthur ’70 VSB and Normadene Murphy ’76 A&S,
alumni shared their experiences on campus and met with
current students to discuss the African-American experience
at Villanova through the decades.
The project focuses primarily on the African-American
experience at the University 1950-85 and documents the
significant contributions African-American students made
during this period.
The event was sponsored by the VUAA, Multicultural
Volunteer Leader Awards 2012
Alumni volunteers received the red
carpet treatment at the 2012 “NOVA
Awards” held Oct. 27 at the Radnor
Valley Country Club. The awards ceremony
followed the Volunteer Leaders
Conference to recognize the outstanding
contributions of Villanova’s alumni.
The Chapter President Recognition was
awarded to Joe Troy ’82 VSB, president of
the Tampa Bay Chapter, Mike Gigliotti
’70 COE, president of the Orange County
Chapter, and Ed Neville ’65 A&S, president
of the Houston Chapter.
The Chicago Chapter was awarded
48 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
Villanovans impacted the world directly as a result of the
support provided to campus, and at the President’s Club Reception,
held Oct. 26 in the Connelly Center, that international impact
was on display.
Attendees were invited to enjoy international cuisine and view
a special collection of icons from around the world as curated
by the Rev. Richard Cannuli, OSA, MFA, ’73 A&S. Afterward,
they watched a video highlighting the University’s positive
global influence.
In keeping with the spirit of the evening Mike O’Neill, vice president
for University Advancement, announced a $1 million gift had
been given to the College of Nursing, in support of education.
At “Back & Black,” Villanovans celebrated the African American
experience at the University.
Affairs and Student Development. To view the oral history project,
visit http://exhibits.library.villanova.edu.
the Rev. Owen “Ray” Jackson, OSA,
’61 Community Service Award; Mike
Gigliotti ’70 A&S (2011) and Beth
Toolen ’87 VSB (2012) earned the
Goodwill Ambassador Award; Jerry
Quinn ’87, Greater D.C. Chapter
co-president, earned the Leadership
Award; Rick Stieber ’60 COE from the
Charlotte Chapter garnered the Distinguished
Service Award; and Joe Martini
’61 VSB (2011) and Jim McMonagle
’62 COE (2012) earned the Reunion
Volunteer Service Award.
“Villanova thanks you for your con-
tributions, hard work and dedication,”
Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75
A&S told attendees.
The keynote address was given by
Brian Muscarella ’80 VSB, Charlotte
Chapter president.
The awards ceremony followed the
VLC where alumni volunteer leaders
attended workshops on event planning,
among other topics.
The Alumni Board Directors held
their quarterly meeting and alumni
leaders shared best practices and creative
ideas.
Class Notes
VILLANOVA GRADUATES SHARE THEIR NEWS & UPDATES • IN MEMORIAM • FACULTY • STAFF
1950s
CLASS OF 1953
60th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
CLASS OF 1958
55th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
Robert Natiello ’52 A&S has
published a book of collected
fiction and nonfiction stories,
The Almost Perfect Crime and
Other Award Winning Stories of
New York. Four of the stories
have been nominated for national
Pushcart Prizes.“Dog Fight” won
first prize in Manhattan Media’s
Summer Fiction Contest.
1960s
CLASS OF 1963
50th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
CLASS OF 1968
45th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
James O’Donnell ’63 VSB has
joined the board of DSW Inc.
and will serve on the technology
committee. He is a member of
the Villanova University Board
of Trustees.
Wali Jones ’64 VSB was
inducted into the Philadelphia
Sports Hall of Fame Nov. 8,
2012. He started for the Wildcats
from 1961-1964 and is a
member of the Philadelphia Big
Five Hall of Fame. Jones’ number
24 jersey was retired in 1995
and hangs in the rafters of the
Pavilion at Villanova University.
Charles Buechel Jr., Esq., ’69
VSB accepted a position as partner
at the Rawle & Henderson,
LLP office in Pittsburgh, Pa.
1970s
CLASS OF 1973
40th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
CLASS OF 1978
35th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
Richard Dyer, Esq., ’70 COE,
’74 VLS was honored by the
2012 edition of Chambers USA:
America’s Leading Lawyers for
Business for his excellence in the
field of construction law. He is a
partner at the Duane Morris LLP
office in New York.
Richard W. Cohen, MD, ’72
MA was inducted into the
Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall
of Fame May 21, 2012.
Gerard Hempstead ’72 A&S
was ordained to the order of the
Permanent Diaconate for the
Diocese of Orlando by Bishop
John Gerard Noonan at St.
James Cathedral in Orlando, Fla.
Hempstead received a Masters of
Theology from Saint Leo University
in May 2012.
Herbert Sudfeld Jr., Esq., ’73
A&S was named partner at the
Curtin & Heefner LLP office in
Morrisville, Pa.
Jerome Curtin, PE, ’75 COE
has retired from the US Environmental
Protection Agency
after 38 years of federal service
as an environmental engineer.
Lynne Z. Gold-Bikin ’76 VLS
was quoted in the article,
“Lawyers, Litigants Take Issue
with AOPC’s Guardian Ad
Litem Report,” published in
The Legal Intelligencer. Gold-
Bikin is Chair of the family law
practice at Weber Gallagher
Simpson Stapleton Fires &
Newby LLP in Norristown, Pa.
Jean Ruttenberg ’76 MA has
co-authored the chapter, “Cancer
Care for Adults with Autism
Spectrum Disorder: The Case of
Prostate Cancer” in the book,
Nursing of Autism Spectrum Disorder:
Evidence-Based Integrated Care
across the Lifespan. Ruttenberg is
the recipient of the 2008 College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Graduate Alumni Medallion.
NICHOLS INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME
In September 2012, Hank Nichols, EdD, ’58 A&S,
former Education Department chair at Villanova,
was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for
his longtime career as an official. Respected for his
professionalism and his passion for the game, Nichols
worked 13 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
finals. At 48, he transitioned into the position
of the NCAA’s first coordinator of officials, overseeing
the rules and the officials for 22 more years.
Marc P. Weingarten ’76
VLS has been elected to the
American Association for Justice
(AAJ) Board of Governors for a
three-year term. He also served
on the Board of Governors for
the Pennsylvania Association
for Justice and was a delegate
representing the state entity for
AAJ from 1997 until 2012. He
is a partner at Locks Law Firm
in Philadelphia.
William Lidestri ’77 VSB was
named senior vice president,
director of Operations and
Technology at Chelsea Groton
Bank in Conn.
Bill Olsen ’77 A&S published
the book, The Anti-Corruption
Handbook. He also was on the
advisory committee that helped
develop the World Bank Institute’s
Corruption Guide, The
Collective Action Against Corruption.
Olsen is a principal at Grant
Thornton in Washington, D.C.
Irvin Schorsch ’77 VSB is
a regular contributor to The
Dr. Oz Show and The Huffington
Post.
Joseph Viscuso, PE, PLS, ’77
MCE accepted a position as vice
president and office director of
the West Chester, Pa. office of
Pennoni Associates.
James Kunard, PE, ’79 COE
was promoted to director of
facilities services for the school
district of Palm Beach County
in Florida.
1980s
CLASS OF 1983
30th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
CLASS OF 1988
25th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
George Kroculick, Esq., ’80
A&S, ’83 VLS was honored by
VILLANOVA.EDU 49

CLASS NOTES
WILDCAT PRIDE
Lt. Stephen J. Sweeney, USN, ’02 A&S currently deployed
as a Carrier Air Wing Seven Operator with
Carrier Strike Group Eight, embarked upon the USS
Eisenhower, where he was honored to meet with
other alumni who are serving their country abroad.
In front of WILDCAT 400 are Cmdr. John B. Picco,
USN, ’93 VSB, a CSG-8 Air Operations Officer; Lt.
Cmdr. John E. Kuta, USN, ’00 COE, an HS-5 Safety
Officer; Lt. Tyler P. McKnight ’06 A&S, an HS-5
Assistant Operations Officer; Capt. Sam J. Paparo
’87 A&S, a Commander Carrier Air Wing Seven;
Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Kelly Page ’01 A&S, a DESRON
TWO EIGHT Operations Officer; Lt. Sweeney, USN,
and Cmdr. Mike Royle, USN, ’93 COE, a CSG-8 Anti-
Terrorism Force Protection Officer.
the 2012 edition of Chambers
USA: America’s Leading Lawyers
for Business for his excellence
in the field of real estate law.
Kroculick is a partner at the
Duane Morris LLP office in
Philadelphia.
Susan Stabler-Haas ’80 CON,
’85 MSN published the book,
Fast Facts for the Student Nurse:
Nursing Student Success in a Nutshell.
Stabler-Haas is an adjunct
instructor at the Villanova
University School of Nursing.
David J. Brooman ’82 VLS
opened an Environmental
Litigation practice, Law Offices
of David J. Brooman, LLC, in
Berwyn, Pa.
Brendan Canavan ’82 A&S
has been promoted to president
of the UPS Asia Pacific region.
Annemarie Urbinato Schieber
’82 A&S accepted a position as
senior investigative analyst at
the Mackinac Center for Public
Policy in Michigan.
Geetha Dabir ’83 MS has been
named by Business Insider as one
the 25 Most Powerful Women
Engineers in Technology.
Judith Luzeski ’83 MS was
promoted to vice president of
Client Services at Schoolwires,
Inc. in State College, Pa.
Lt. Cmdr. Patricia “Patsy”
Van Bloem Schumacher,
USN (Ret.), ’83 A&S is
featured in Linda Maloney’s,
Military Fly Moms, a collection
of 71 stories by women who
were or are military aviators and
mothers.
Dave Brown ’85 MS will be
walking from Atlantic City
to San Francisco in 2013 in
memory of his wife, Joan ’85
MS, who passed this past year
due to ovarian cancer. The
purpose of his quest is to raise
awareness and funds for ovarian
cancer research. He writes about
it at www.ocjoan.blogspot.com.
Diane M. Wink, EdD, ’85
MSN has been appointed as the
Hugh F. and Jeannette G.
McKean Endowed Chair in
Nursing at the University of
Central Florida College of Nursing.
Dr. Wink is a professor and
coordinator of the Nurse Educator
MSN program there.
Steven Beer, Esq., ’86 VLS
and Kathryne Badura, Esq.,
’08 A&S, ’11 VLS published an
article titled, “The New Renaissance:
A Breakthrough Time for
Artists” in the premier issue of
the Berkeley Journal of Entertainment
& Sports Law.
James Clemente ’86 VSB, ’86
MTX has joined the board of
directors of Luzerne Bank. He is
a managing partner, accountant
and consultant with Snyder &
Clemente in Pennsylvania.
Patrick Tompkins ’86 A&S
was selected as a 2012-2013
candidate for the Chancellor’s
Fellowship, which will allow him
to spend nine months working
on coursework leading to a
Doctorate of philosophy. He is
an associate professor of English
and chair of the Department of
English at John Tyler Community
College in Chester, Va.
Harold Jensen ’87 VSB was
inducted into the Fairfield
County Sports Hall of Fame during
the Fairfield Country Sports
Commission’s eighth annual
Sports Night awards dinner in
Greenwich, Conn. He is a former
president of the Villanova
University Alumni Association.
Kimberly Boller, PhD, ’88
A&S was promoted to senior
fellow at Mathematica Policy
Research in Princeton, N.J.
Michael DeRosa ’88 MS
accepted a position as sales performance
director at Travelers
Insurance in Tampa, Fla.
Michael Duncan ’88 VSB and
Joseph Connor ’88 VSB have
co-authored the book, The New
Founders. The book revolves
around six unsuspecting Americans
drawn together at Independence
Hall on the Fourth of July.
Douglas Turrell ’88 MS
accepted a position as senior
vice president of government
affairs at First Generation in
Allentown, Pa.
Sylvia DeSantis ’89 A&S published
the book, Watercharms:
Ocean-Reiki Meditations.
Timothy Foley ’89 COE
accepted a position as sales
executive at ConEdison Solutions
in Valhalla, N.Y.
David M. Fournier ’89
VLS was recognized as one of
Delaware’s leading bankruptcy
practitioners in Chambers USA:
America’s Leading Lawyers for
Business. Fournier is a Partner in
the Wilmington, Del., office of
Pepper Hamilton LLC.
Kathryn Quigley ’89 A&S
published the journalism textbook,
Introduction to News Writing:
The Real Scoop, a guide for
college students and journalists
just starting out in their careers.
Quigley is an associate professor
at Rowan University.
John Reddel ’89 A&S was promoted
to manager of Creative
Services at the Christian Broadcasting
Network in Virginia
Beach, Va.
1990s
CLASS OF 1993
20th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
CLASS OF 1998
15th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
William Belanger ’90 COE was
recognized in IAM Magazine’s
inaugural edition of “IAM Patent
1000: The World’s Leading
Patent Practitioners” for his
outstanding work in the Intellectual
Property Department at
Pepper Hamilton law firm in
Boston.
Daniel Cummins, Esq., ’90
A&S was appointed vice president
of the north region of the
Pennsylvania Defense Institute
and reappointed co-chairman
of the auto law committee. He
is a partner at Foley Cognetti
Comerford Cimini & Cummins
in Scranton, Pa.
Capt. John Keegan, USN,
’90 COE assumed the duty of
program manager for the Rolling
Airframe Missile program in Program
Executive Office Integrated
Warfare Systems in Arlington, Va.
Geoffrey Milne, Esq., ’90 VLS
was selected as a Connecticut
Super Lawyer for Business Litigation
in 2011 and 2012.
Peter Quintal ’90 COE was
promoted to lead test pilot for
the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
aircraft at Northrop Grumman
Corporation in St. Augustine, Fla.
Timothy Scanlon ’90 A&S
accepted a position as director of
business development at HCA
East Florida Division in Plantation,
Fla.
Frederic “F.J.” Hueber ’91
VSB welcomed a girl.
Carolyn R. Mirabile ’91 VLS,
a partner in the law office of
Weber Gallagher Simpson
Stapleton Fires & Newby LLP
in Norristown, Pa., published an
article entitled “Until Death do
us Part ... and Then What?” in
the Pennsylvania Law Weekly.
Carmen R. Stanziola, LLM ’92
VLS opened his own practice,
Law Office of Carmen R. Stanziola,
LLC after 22 years as a staff
attorney for the Bucks County
Court of Common Pleas.
Robert Varnay ’92 A&S
received a Master of Arts in
Mental Health Counseling from
Nyack College. He is affiliated
with Light the Way Counseling
Center, LLC in Midland Park, N.J.
Andrew Fitzpatrick ’93 VSB
welcomed a boy.
Deborah Sackner Goldring,
DBA, ’93 MBA received a
Doctorate in Business Administration
from Florida Atlantic
University. She has been
appointed as assistant professor
of Marketing in the School of
Business Administration at Stetson
University in DeLand, Fla.
Michelle Sterk Barrett ’93
A&S was named director of the
Donelan Office of Community-
Based Learning at the College
of the Holy Cross in Worcester,
Mass.
Meg Matey Evans ’94 A&S
accepted a position as principal
at Squadron Line Elementary
School in Simsbury, Conn.
Edward Reitmeyer ’94 MTX
was named managing director
and head of the Real Estate
Advisory Services Group at
the CBIZ MHM, LLC office in
Philadelphia.
Jennifer O’Rourke Tiffen,
PhD, ’95 CON received a
Doctorate in Nursing from the
University of Illinois-Chicago.
She will serve as an assistant
professor and as the director of
the primary care adultgerontology
nurse practitioner
program at the University of
Illinois-Chicago.
Jennifer Prince Gross, Esq.,
’95 A&S, ’98 VLS welcomed
a girl.
Christopher Barton ’96 COE
welcomed a girl.
Christine Muller ’96 A&S, ’03
MA accepted a position as dean
of Saybrook College at Yale University
in New Haven, Conn.
Susanne Salerno ’96 VSB
accepted a position as principal
and director of foundation services
at Silver Bridge located in
Boston. Salerno is the Villanova
BREWING SUCCESS
Ryan Krill ’05 A&S and Chris Henke ’05 COE
started the Cape May Brewing Co. in July 2011 on a
shoestring budget. Already their India Pale Ale has
won first place in the Atlantic City Beer Festival,
and the company has been awarded an economic
development loan from the state and township
to help fund an expansion. “Villanova shaped the
direction of our company by providing us with the
skills we need to succeed in the beer industry,”
Krill says. “We carry Villanova’s sense of community
in our business practices by supporting local
charities and events.”
University Alumni Association
chapter president for Boston.
Christian Giudice ’97 A&S has
published the book Beloved Warrior:
The Rise and Fall of Alexis
Argüello. The book discusses the
life and career of the Nicaraguan
Hall of Fame boxer who passed
away in 2009.
Thomas Kelly ’97 A&S
accepted a position as principal
of new health and productivity
practice at Buck Consultants.
Dean H. Malik ’97 VLS joined
the Doylestown, Pa., law office
of Eastburn & Gray PC as a
member of the firm’s Litigation
practice group.
Shannon Berrill Mastropoalo
’98 A&S and Dominick
Mastropoalo ’98 A&S
welcomed a girl.
Marcia Dawkins, PhD, ’98
A&S has published the book
Clearly Invisible: Racial Passing
and the Color of Cultural Identity.
Lisa Eckl McKay, Esq., ’98
VLS welcomed a boy.
50 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 51

CLASS NOTES
Peter Oliver, Esq., ’98 VSB
welcomed a girl.
Michael W. Cardamone, Esq.,
’99 VLS has been voted a Pennsylvania
Super Lawyer—Rising
Star for the fourth year. He is
an attorney and manager of the
Blue Bell, Pa., office for Krasno
Krasno & Onwudinjo.
Shannon Gallagher Broderick
’99 A&S and Denis Broderick
’09 MCHE welcomed a boy.
Mary Nell Lacivita Murphy
’99 A&S has been named to
the executive advisory board of
the Greater Wildwood Tourism
Improvement and Development
Authority as a business representative
for Wildwood Crest, N.J.
She is the marketing and finance
director the Adventurer Oceanfront
Inn in Wildwood Crest.
Jennifer Lukach Bradley ’99
VLS welcomed a girl.
Jonathan Poling, Esq., ’99
A&S accepted a position as
partner at Baker & McKenzie,
LLP, in Washington, D.C.
2000s
CLASS OF 2003
10th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
CLASS OF 2008
5th Reunion
June 6-9, 2013
Eric M. Brown, Esq., ’00 A&S
was promoted to partner at
Siana, Bellwoar & McAndrew,
LLP in Chester Springs, Pa.
Michael Danko ’00 VSB
welcomed a boy.
Kristin DeRugeriis Molavoque,
Esq., ’00 A&S has been
named to the Pennsylvania
Super Lawyers—Rising Stars list
as one of the top up-and-coming
attorneys for 2012. Molavoque is
an attorney at MacElree Harvey
in Chester County, Pa.
Craig Gianetti, Esq., ’00 VSB
was selected as a New Jersey
Super Lawyers—Rising Star for
2012. Gianetti was elected to
the board of directors for the
Land Use Section of the New
Jersey School Board Association.
Eileen Kelly Keefe, Esq., ’00
A&S, ’04 VLS has been named
to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers—Rising
Stars list as one of
the top up-and-coming attorneys
in Pennsylvania for 2012. Keefe
is an associate at Obermayer
Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel,
LLP, in Philadelphia.
Amber Kyle Blake ’00 A&S
was named the employee of the
year by the Colorado Association
of State Transit Agencies.
She is the multi-modal transportation
director for the City of
Durango, Colo.
Elizabeth Schaefer McClave
’00 VSB and Chris McClave
’01 VSB welcomed a boy.
Marianne Connolly Lauber
’01 A&S, ’07 MS welcomed
a girl.
Marissa Deitch ’01 MS was
promoted to vice president of
Career Counseling at Crest
Counseling and Educational
Services in Philadelphia.
Catherine Fabrizio Russell ’01
A&S and Richard Russell ’00
VSB welcomed a girl.
Kristen Falanga ’01 A&S,
’03 MA married Kevin
Hollsh–wandner.
John Iannozzi, Esq., ’01 A&S,
’04 VLS has been elected as a
board member of the Triangle
Club of Montgomery County,
which awards scholarships to high
school seniors who have demonstrated
excellence in academics,
athletics and community service.
He is an attorney at Hamburg,
Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin,
PC, in Lansdale, Pa.
Elizabeth McMahon Kaciubij
’01 VSB welcomed a boy.
Christian Reid ’01 A&S
accepted a position as program
director at CVS Caremark in
Woonsocket, R.I.
Kristin Suga Heres ’01 A&S
welcomed a girl.
John Furlong ’02 VSB and his
team successfully defended their
title in the Pennsylvania Breast
Cancer Coalition (PBCC)
Home Run Derby. Furlong hit a
state record eight home runs. In
its five year history, the Derby
has raised more than $500,000
for the benefit of the PBCC.
Maura Grego ’02 A&S married
John Villani ’02 VSB.
Kathleen Hagerty Pasquini
’02 A&S and Frank Pasquini
’08 MBA welcomed a girl.
Matthew Levinson ’02 VSB
has been appointed as the seventh
chairman of the New Jersey
Casino Control Commission
in Atlantic City. Levinson was
nominated by New Jersey Gov.
Chris Christie and approved by
the state senate in June 2012.
Jennifer Tirado ’02 VSB
married Matthew Zloto.
Sandra Burke ’03 CON
married Roiland Gotiangco.
Donna Eastabrooks, PhD, ’03
MA was awaded a Doctorate of
Philosophy in Education specializing
in Post-Secondary and
Adult Education from Capella
University. She is a professor of
Dental Hygiene and both the
clinical and local anesthesia
coordinator at Manor College
in Jenkintown, Pa.
Meghann Gould Keaveney
’03 VSB and Michael Keaveney
’03 A&S welcomed a boy.
Jeanine Johnson, PsyD, ’03
A&S, ’06 MS received a Doctorate
of Psychology in clinical
psychology from Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Christie Kemple ’03 VSB was
promoted to director of Business
Development at Broadway
Gourmet in Boston.
Leah MacKenzie Patterson
’03 A&S ’09 MA welcomed
a boy.
Tiffani McDonough, Esq., ’03
A&S, ’06 VLS has been named
to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers—Rising
Stars list as one of
the top up-and-coming attorneys
for 2012. McDonough is an
associate and member of the
labor relations and employment
law department at Obermayer
Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel,
LLP in Philadelphia.
Mary Rose O’Connor Day,
DO, ’03 COE welcomed a girl.
Mark Tribbitt, PhD, ’03 MBA
received a Doctorate of Philosophy
in Management from Drexel
University.
James Ballow ’04 A&S was
promoted to senior manager of
product development at ESPN-
Mobile in New York.
Kristine L. Calalang ’04 VLS
opened her own family law
practice, the Law Office of
Kristine L. Calalang, located in
Philadelphia.
Meredith Pastore Santinelli
’04 CON and Gianluca
Santinelli ’04 VSB, ’06 MBA
welcomed a girl.
Elizabeth Shum ’04 VSB
married Kevin Mille.
Brian Galloway ’05 A&S, ’09
MA married Deanna Long.
Jim Gillin ’06 VSB, ’08 MBA
married Jeanette Giunta.
Rob Gordon IV ’05 A&S
co-scored the music for the
award-winning feature documentary
film, PUSH: Madison Versus
Madison. The film was purchased
by ESPN and aired on ESPN
Classic Sept. 8, 2012, and on the
new cable network, Aspire, in
October 2012.
Joshua L. Gayl ’06 VLS joined
the Egg Harbor, N.J., office of
VO Financial Corp. as General
Counsel and Secretary.
Lauren Humann ’06 A&S
married Ryan Werner ’06 A&S.
Nicholas O’Donoughue ’06
COE married Lauren Anne
Chinchen.
Christine Soares ’06 VLS has
been elected to the Board of the
Professional Women’s Roundtable,
which provides networking,
leadership, educational and
personal growth opportunities to
emerging women business leaders
in the Greater Philadelphia
region. Soares is an attorney in
the litigation department at Fox
Rothschild LLP in Philadelphia.
Monica Fiss ’07 A&S married
Alan Burdette Jr. Fiss acts as
both an owner and trainer of
the recently opened Windswept
Stables, an equine training,
boarding and lesson facility in
Aberdeen, Md.
Virginia Greis ’07 A&S married
Michael Cacciapalle ’07
COE, ’10 MCHE.
Danielle Ko ’07 MS and
Brian Gaspar ’07 COE
welcomed a girl.
Lt. Lindsay McQuade, USN,
’07 CON spoke at the
second anniversary of the Role
Last year 23% of Alumni
made a gift to Villanova
which helped
impact
the lives
of others
around
the world
and most
importantly
students here
on campus.
Thank you! Help us reach our goal of 25% this
year by making your gift today!
Visit www.villanova.edu/theannualfund
or scan the QR code to see how
Villanovans are making a global impact
thanks to you!
www.villanova.edu/makeagift
1-800-486-5244
theannualfund@villanova.edu
3 Hospital at Kandahar Airfield,
Afghanistan, May 23, 2012.
Lt. McQuade is a medical
surgical nurse who has been
redeployed to the multinational
medical facility.
Rachel Aldins Montgomery,
US Army, RN, ’08 CON
was honorably discharged in
October 2011 from active duty
with the US Army Nurse Corps.
Montgomery was awarded the
Army Commendation Medal
for her service and currently is
pursuing a masters of nursing in
Healthcare Administration at
the University of Pennsylvania
School of Nursing.
Kathryne Badura, Esq., ’08
A&S, ’11 VLS accepted a
position as external relations
coordinator—enforcement with
the International Trademark
Association in New York.
Michael Coskey, Esq., ’08
A&S accepted a position as an
attorney at at KML Law Group
in Philadelphia.
Julie Tran ’08 VSB received a
Juris Doctor from the Roger
Williams University School of
Law May 18, 2012.
Daniel Trucil ’08 A&S, ’11
MA accepted a position as a
senior account executive at
MSLGROUP Americas in
New York.
Sarah Arscott ’09 COE married
Mark McKeever ’08 COE.
Nada Melissa Ayers ’09 MS
accepted a position at Johnson
& Johnson as human resources
manager supporting Janssen
Biotech.
Katherine Hetrick ’09 MA
and Christoper Smith ’04 MA
welcomed a boy.
Include Villanova
in your retirement
portfolio and make a
win-win investment!
Roselynn and Nick Calio’s
most recent charitable gift
annuity to Villanova reduced
their capital gains taxes,
because it was funded by
appreciated stock. By
deferring their first annuity
payment until their retirement,
the Calios are able to increase
the percentage of guaranteed
annual lifetime income. In
the future, the College of
Engineering will benefit from
the Calio’s generosity.
Matthew Papson ’09 A&S
has launched the fantasy sports
company Reality Sports Online
(RSO). RSO was designed to
emulate actual NFL front office
operations and create a realistic
general manager experience.
Lindsay Tomlinson ’09 A&S
accepted a position as annual
fund officer at Villanova
University.
Antwon Young ’09 A&S has
been named the Professional
Indoor Football League most
valuable player for the 2011-2012
season. Young is the quarterback
for the Richmond Raiders.
2010s
Harry P. McGrath ’11 VLS
joined the Philadelphia office of
Burns White, LLC as an associate
in their Health Care and
Long-Term Care Group.
Roselynn & Nick Calio, ‘65 COE,
Heritage Society Members
“Our gift to Villanova lowered our taxes and
provides income for life. We liked it so much
we setup a second charitable gift annuity.”
Villanova Sample Gift Annuity Rates
Rate 0f Return %
8
7
6
5
50 60 70 80
Age
For more information and a
no obligations proposal,
contact the Office of Planned
Giving at 800-486-5244 or
plannedgiving@villanova.edu.
52 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 53

CLASS NOTES
Megan Miller ’12 COE hiked
more than 12,000 feet to reach
the summit of Mount Fuji in
Japan. Miller currently is stationed
in Yokosuka, Japan, with
the US Navy.
Andrew Sayre ’12 COE
embarked on a three-month
sailing expedition through the
Northwest Passage in summer
2012. A recap of his journey can
be found at sayreinnewzealand.
blogspot.com. Sayre was the
president of Villanova’s intramural
sailing team for three years.
Lisa Thiemann, PhD, CRNA,
’12 PhD CON accepted the
position as chief credentialing
officer at the National Board of
Certification and Recertification
for Nurse Anesthetists in Park
Ridge, Ill.
In Memoriam
1940s
Rev. Angus N. Carney, OSA,
’40 A&S, Sept. 13, 2012.
Joseph W. Parkin ’42 COE,
Jan. 25, 2010.
James F. Pike ’42 VSB,
Aug. 26, 2011.
Bruno J. Talvacchia ’42 COE,
Sept. 25, 2012.
Raymond A. Hill ’43 COE,
Aug. 24, 2012.
Francis J. McGuinn ’44 COE,
Sept. 2012.
John S. “Jack” McManus ’44
COE, July 28, 2012.
Charles R. Miranda ’44 COE,
July 11, 2012.
George J. McFadden ’47 VSB,
Sept. 22, 2012.
Joseph H. Nunan ’47 VSB,
April 14, 2012.
Edward F. Flood, DDS, ’48
A&S, July 30, 2012.
Roger C. Lattanza ’48 A&S,
March 28, 2009.
Leo T. Bruyette Jr., DDS, ’49
A&S, July 18, 2012.
William E. Delaney III, MD,
’49 A&S, June 11, 2012.
Francis J. “Frank”
Guzikowski ’49 A&S, April
23, 2012.
Francis A. Linsalata ’49 VSB,
June 24, 2012.
1950s
James M. Dean ’50 VSB,
July 14, 2012.
Joseph F. McNelis ’50 VSB,
July 27, 2012.
Joseph A. Quinn ’50 COE,
July 26, 2012.
Charles J. Loeper ’51 COE,
March 1, 2012.
Anthony P. Pagliaro ’51 VSB,
Sept. 20, 2012.
Charles J. Pursley Jr. ’51 COE,
Aug. 29, 2012.
J. Gerald Geiling ’52 VSB,
Aug. 15, 2012.
James F. Guthrie, MD, ’52
A&S, June 8, 2012.
Daniel J. MacKell ’52 A&S,
Aug. 22, 2012.
William I. McCloskey ’52
A&S, June 6, 2012.
Benjamin B. Stewart Jr. ’52
VSB, Oct. 5, 2010.
George K. Godlewski ’53
A&S, Aug. 18, 2012.
Michael A. Forcinito ’54 VSB,
Aug. 1, 2012.
John C. Gillman ’54 A&S,
June 8, 2012.
John J. Kelly ’54 A&S,
June 9, 2012.
Harry F. Mason ’54 VSB,
Dec. 18, 2011.
Thomas J. Carmody ’55 VSB,
April 19, 2012.
William G. Cunningham ’55
VSB, Aug. 14, 2012.
Albert J. Dempsey ’55 VSB,
July 25, 2012.
Rev. John J. Farrell, OSA,
PhD, ’55 A&S, Oct. 5, 2012.
Joseph W. Myrtetus ’56 VSB,
July 16, 2012.
Nicholas C. Pedano, DO, ’56
A&S, July 13, 2012.
Bertha H. Phillips ’56 CON,
July 13, 2012.
Richard J. Scanlon, ’57 VSB,
’67 MA, Sept. 19, 2012.
John P. “Jack” Duffy ’58
COE, Aug. 9, 2012.
John P. Williams ’58 A&S, ’67
MA, Sept. 1, 2012.
Margaret M. “Margie” Callan
Hagan ’59 CON, Sept. 3, 2012.
John J. “Spike” Dinneen ’59
COE, July 5, 2012.
Charles L. Stead Sr. ’59 A&S,
Aug. 4, 2012.
1960s
James R. Bergmann ’60 VSB,
March 24, 2012.
James J. Cantwell ’60 VSB,
May 30, 2012.
James M. Donoghue ’60 VSB,
Aug. 2, 2012.
Joseph W. DuRocher, Esq.,’60
VSB, May 19, 2012.
Richard T. Gerstner ’60 COE,
July 23, 2012.
William J. Hufnell ’61 VSB,
Sept. 15, 2012.
Joseph L. McLaughlin ’61
COE, July 26, 2012.
Douglas J. Murray ’61 COE,
June 14, 2012. Murray was a former
president of the Villanova
Alumni Association.
Eugene J. O’Brien ’61 VSB,
July 4, 2012.
Joseph M. Noel ’62 A&S,
Aug. 1, 2012.
Albert E. “Bert” Wareikis ’64
VSB, May 19, 2012.
Gerald J. Ziccardi ’64 MS,
March 18, 2012.
Clare Brosz ’65 MA,
June 2, 2012.
Francis J. Marinko ’65 COE,
Feb. 6, 2012.
Reginald J. Wesberry ’66 MA,
Sept. 22, 2012.
John M. Ruser ’66 VSB,
Aug. 18, 2012.
Geraldine A. Fletcher ’67
A&S, Sept. 5, 2012.
Andrew S. Hall ’69 VSB,
May 22, 2011.
Sister Aimee M. Hartley, ’69
MA, Sept. 17, 2012.
Elizabeth S. Wallace ’69 MS,
July 28, 2012.
1970s
Robert L. Fleming ’70 VBS,
Aug. 19, 2012.
Geraldine Yanni ’70 MS,
Sept. 14, 2012.
Robert J. McElhenney ’71
A&S, ’74 MA, March 6, 2006.
John J. Carr Jr. ’72 COE,
Sept. 15, 2012.
Dolores B. Manelski ’72 A&S,
May 17, 2011.
Joseph F. McNichol ’72 COE,
July 12, 2012.
Sister Rosemary Delaney ’73
MA, Sept. 10, 2012.
Gerard A. Dowd ’73 VSB,
Aug. 6, 2012.
Thomas J. Sweeney ’73 VSB,
July 16, 2009.
Cmdr. Paul R. Gardella Jr., USN
(Ret.), ’78 VSB, May 28, 2012.
Donald C. Meyer ’78 VSB,
Sept. 11, 2012.
Antina J. Balletto ’79 MS,
Sept. 16, 2012.
Sister Mary C. Curry ’79 MS,
Sept. 6, 2012.
George E. Denczi III ’79 VSB,
Aug. 31, 2012.
1980s
Timothy A. Margraf ’80 A&S,
May 21, 2012.
Emile H. Sonet III, Esq., ’81
VSB, Aug. 23, 2012.
George V. Famiglio Jr., CPA,
PFS, ’83 VSB, April 23, 2011.
Sonya DePaula ’84 CON,
Sept. 10, 2012.
Linda M. Thompson ’86 VSB,
Sept. 20, 2012.
Christopher J. Wynne ’86
VSB, July 9, 2012.
Mark Allen Niemkiewicz ’88
MME, June 26, 2012.
Norma S. Beiduk ’89 A&S,
April 10, 2012.
1990s
Christina M. Dallepezze ’91
VSB, July 14, 2012.
Stephen M. Grello ’91 VSB,
Sept. 3, 2012.
Daniel A. Schultz ’96 COE,
June 22, 2012.
2000s
Amy K. Barnard ’00 A&S,
June 27, 2012.
Erik M. Thierfelder ’06 MS,
Sept. 20, 2012.
Thomas E. Bingenheimer ’03
MBA, May 4, 2012.
Brian D. Lepus ’09 COE,
Aug. 2, 2012.
Class Notes Publication Policy: Villanova University accepts submissions of news of professional achievements or personal milestones for
inclusion in the Class Notes section of Villanova Magazine. Concise submissions can be submitted electronically to alumni@villanova.edu,
via Nova Network (www.alumniconnections.com/villanova) or by mail to Kate Wechsler, Villanova Magazine, Alumni Office, Garey Hall,
Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085. Digital photos should be 300 dpi jpeg or tiff format, and at least 3 X 5
inches. (Please note that we are no longer accepting headshots.) Villanova University reserves complete editorial rights to all content submitted for
Class Notes, and posts and publishes listings in as timely a fashion as possible as space permits. All Class Notes may also be posted on Nova Network.
Reasonable steps are taken to verify the accuracy of the information submitted, but the University cannot guarantee the accuracy of all
submissions. Publication of achievements or milestones does not constitute endorsement by Villanova University.
54 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
VILLANOVA.EDU 55

MyVILLANOVAStory
BRIAN
WESTBROOK
Wildcats football great and recently retired NFL superstar
Brian Westbrook ’01 VSB took time out from his new career
as an Eagles analyst for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia to
chat with Villanova Magazine.
Tell us about your charity, Brian’s blessings.
Our goal is to build a community center that serves as
a hub for athletics and schoolwork and is a place where
kids can learn a trade so they can be successful in life.
I’ve been blessed to have people to help me along the
way. It would be disappointing if I didn’t give back.
Did Villanova inspire you to give back?
Coach Andy Talley always told us: “It’s nice to be
important, but more important to be nice.” Villanova
compels you to do more and to find some way of giving
back. Being involved with Special Olympics became a
highlight of my time at Villanova.
How did Villanova shape your character?
At Villanova, you are held to a higher standard. That
builds character. Being around professors, coaches,
students…your character develops into something
better. There is a saying about the older you get, the
more your parents know. It’s the same thing with
education. The further you get from your school days,
the more you realize how much you gained in college.
My Villanova experience continues to help me to
grow, and I appreciate it more and more.
How does being an alumnus make you feel?
Very proud! When people ask me what college I
attended and I say Villanova, some are surprised that
student athletes—with the emphasis on students—come
from here. It shows the high academic regard people
hold Villanova in. Villanova has a tradition that you
leave things better than you found them—a tradition of
people like Brian Finneran and Howie Long. That tradition
is important to me. When I talk about Villanova,
I say I enjoyed it, met great people and received the
foundation I needed to be successful in life.
What was your proudest Villanova moment?
Winning the Payton Award my senior year. It was a
culmination of everything I’d learned about hard work,
discipline, dedication, study—all those lessons from
family and coaches. It was a great feeling as an individual
award, but so many teammates, coaches, teachers
and other people contributed to that success.
What was most rewarding about the NFL?
Being able to fulfill a lifetime dream. Any time that you
get to the highest level of whatever you do, it’s rewarding.
It was a blessing and honor to do it for nine years.
Describe the transition to TV analyst.
When I was playing, I focused on playing. I put every
minute into being successful. Now that I am in media,
I put all my effort into becoming better at that craft. I
am excited to have the opportunity to be on TV and
use my Villanova education to explain the game and
express myself.
56 VILLANOVA MAGAZINE WINTER 2013
SNAPSHOT
Legendary running back Brian Westbrook’s philosophy
that hard work, dedication and self-discipline
lead to success has served him on the gridiron
and in philanthropy.
WILDCATS CAREER
Years: 1997-2001; Records at graduation: 41 school
records, 19 conference records, 5 NCAA records
Accomplishments: Walter Payton Award, first team
All-American honors (three seasons), jersey retired
NFL CAREER
Seasons: 9; Eagles franchise records: Leader in total
yards from scrimmage (9,785) and touches (1,734)
Accomplishments: Two-time Pro Bowl selection, 2007
NFL Alumni Running Back of the Year
To read more of Brian’s interview, visit
ignitechangegonova.com.
IT TAKES A TEAM TO WIN
NOVA NATION TEAM CHALLENGE
The Villanova Athletic Fund is calling on Wildcat fans
to support their favorite team.
Make a minimum gift of $50
($25 for young alumni: 2008-12) to help your favorite Villanova
athletic program win a $10,000 gift.
Gifts will be awarded to the programs with the highest percentage
increase in the number of overall donors and the highest percentage
increase in dollars.
Make your gift at SupportVillanovaAthletics.com

800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
If you receive two or more magazines at your home address, or if you are a parent receiving your son or daughter’s magazine at your home,
please call the Villanova University Alumni Association at 1-800-VILLANOVA.
10 REASONS
TO REGISTER FOR
ALUMNI REUNION 2013
JUNE 6–9, 2013
1. Catch up at Class Parties.
2. Enjoy activities for all ages at the Family Picnic.
3. Learn to cook like a pro from a Villanova chef.
4. Celebrate with receptions for classes ending in 3 or 8.
5. Revel at the Supernova dinner dance.
6. Go back to class at Reunion University.
7. Tour the campus.
8. Reconnect with friends.
9. Network with alumni.
10. Ignite memories!
Come back to campus for Reunion 2013 from
June 6 to 9. Everyone is welcome – so tell
your friends and see who’s coming on class
Facebook pages and the NovaNetwork.
Visit alumni.villanova.edu